Chapter 8 - Beorn's Home

Ivy watched the orcs carefully lingering in the trees only a few leagues between them made and the company put her on edge, they needed to find a way to put more distance between the two. Ivy scanned the trees sensing that something else was lingering out there, she could feel it, the orcs lingered unmovingly. What could be so dangerous that it made even Azog hesitant?

Ivy's question was answered quickly as a massive creature stalked into view from creeping out from within the forest, "What is this beast?" She breathed out to herself as she leapt down from the tree, landing in a low crouch startling Kili she chuckled lightly.

Kili threw a punch though a smile lingered on his lips, hitting her in the bicep Ivy groaned out in pain having hit her arm with stitches. Ivy quickly punched him back before slipping away to Gandalf.

"Gandalf!" Ivy yelled, ignoring Kili protests of not getting the last hit, storming up to the old wizard. Angry and fearful for the lives of the company.

"Ah, Ivy," Gandalf smiled that all-knowing smile.

"How close is the pack?" Thorin asked coming to stand beside his lover, his hands a welcome feeling easing Ivy's fear and anger.

"They're only a couple leagues away but they dwell there, moving no closer, held off by another creature," she spoke, eyeing the old wizard positive that he knew more about what lurked out there then he was letting on.

"What could possibly hold off a pack of orcs?" Kili skeptically asked the same question Ivy had been asking herself only moments ago as he joined in the conversation

"I do not know what it is exactly, Gandalf does, though." Pausing to take a deep Ivy snapped at Gandalf, demanding to know more about what was going on. She refused to be left in the dark. "Mani naa ta? (What is it?)"

"What form did it take? Like a bear?" Gandalf asked with raised eyebrows, narrowing his eyes in Ivy's direction.

"I think you know," Ivy stated exasperatedly, stepping towards the old wizard everyone turned looking to the wizard.

"You knew about this beast?" Bofur cried out surprised, Gandalf turned away in deep thought.

"Of course he knew, Gandalf always knows," Ivy grumbled, her fist clenching her bow.

"I say we double back." Bofur offered up.

"We'll be run down by a pack of Orcs." Thorin reminded him with a glare.

"There is a house, it's not far from here, where we might take refuge." Gandalf mused his back still turned away from the company.

"Whose house? Are they friend or foe?" Thorin asked suspiciously.

"Neither. He will help us or he will kill us." Gandalf informed

"What choice do we have?"

"Great, life or death has become a game of chance." Ivy's words were drowned out by the great beast howling in the forest, too close for comfort.

"None." Gandalf breathed, answering Thorin taking off in a sprint.

Once again the company was following Gandalf running for their lives, a great beast hot on their trail, Azog, and the orcs were not far off either.

"This way! Quickly!" Gandalf called out, waving everyone along to the house in the distance. "Into the house! Run! Come on! Get inside!"

Forced to come to a sudden halt outside the door, Ivy turned watching the great creature looming towards. "Open the damned door," she growled, fear racking through her heart.

"Quickly!" Thorin rushed forward to help, the door budged swinging open allowing them into safety.

Shoving the door close the beast lunged forward ramming its head through everyone working together to close the door and keep the beast out.

"Come on, lads!" Dwalin urged everyone in.

"What is that?" Ori breathed, as the door was shut and locked up tightly.

"Yes, Gandalf. Please do tell." Ivy sighed, looking out the window as she leaned against the frame thankful for the safe confines of these walls after the recent events.

"That is our host," Gandalf informed casually.

Ivy's eyes widened, "Excuse me?" She cried out horrified, she knew sometimes Gandalf held plans that were, to say the least, insane but this.

"His name is Beorn, he's a skin-changer. Sometimes he's a huge black bear, sometimes he's a great strong man. The bear is unpredictable, but the man can be reasoned with. However, he is not over fond of dwarves." Gandalf explained.

"He's leaving," Ori called out.

"Come away from there! It's not natural, none of it. It's obvious, he's under some dark spell." Dori cried, pulling his brother away from the door.

"Don't be a fool. He's under no enchantment but his own." Gandalf snapped pulling his hat off. "Alright now, get some sleep all of you. You'll be safe here tonight." Gandalf paused looking out the window, "I hope." He breathed to himself.

"I'll make sure all is safe through the night, Gandalf." Ivy sighed, agreeing to take watch as the other got some much-needed sleep.

Smiling Gandalf gave her a small nod heading to a pile of hay to rest.

Ivy settled herself upon a wooden crate by the window waiting and watching. "Everyone is already asleep, as you should be as well," she spoke without turning to look at Thorin, as he joined her by the window.

"Maybe, that is true but I wanted to speak with you first." Thorin moved his body closer, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"What can I do for you," Ivy asked turning to look at him with a smile.

"Ivy," he prompted. "I am no fool, since when could you not speak to me about what troubles your heart."

Ivy sighed knowing he was right, still, she shook her head firmly.

"My dear delicate little elf, talk to me." His fingers hooked beneath her chin turning her face so she was looking at him, his thumb lingering on her lips. "You were in the hands of Azog, your mind lingers in the past."

"I'm fine, Thorin."

"Do not lie to me." He voice was firm but did not anger.

"What do you want me to say, it's true, it brought back awful memories, made me wish this quest was done and over with, made me wonder if all of this is truly worth it, made me wish I'd never left the mountainside in the first place," Ivy admitted her voice laced with tears. "It's fine, I'm fine," she confirmed forcefully.

Thorin sighed, but he said nothing, silence hung in the air for a while between the two. "When this is over and I have reclaimed Erebor when you stand by my side as Athane(Queen), I promise you I will give you the life you seek. I will give you all your heart's desires, I promise you, my little elf."

"Men lananubukhs menu(I love you.)" Ivy spoke breathlessly, kissing him passionately.

"Men lananubukhs menu, Ivy." Thorin returned.

"You should get some sleep. I am fine, truly," with a kiss Thorin stood leaving to his own place amongst the dwarves that already slept on the floor.

When Ivy heard his light even breathing of sleep, she allowed herself a few silent tears to fall unseen, heartbroken tears of the past, tears of happiness for the future. Tears of fear for what may still come to pass. She stayed here resting her mind as much as she could until the sunrise began to peak over the horizon, in the far corner a great burly man came into view chopping wood Ivy could only assume him to be Beorn. Thinking back to Gandalf's words 'The bear is unpredictable, but the man can be reasoned with. However, he is not over fond of dwarves.' Sighing she decided to take it upon herself to greet their host, the others still fast asleep she slipped silently out the door.

With a deep breath, she walked over pausing as he looked over, a sneer upon his lips. "And who are you?"

"My name is Ivy, my companions and I took refuge in your home last night. I am sorry for any trouble it may have caused you." He growled chopping another log. "Uh," Ivy began but did not know what else she was to say. Slowing she walked closer picking up a few stray pieces of wood he'd already cut stacking them neatly upon the pile he had started.

"Why," he spoke suddenly, nearly causing her to drop the wood in her hands.

"Pardon?" Ivy asked turning back to face him.

"Why do you take refuge here?" He asked twisting his head to the side, eyes wide as he stared down the elf before him.

"A friend, Gandalf the Grey apart of this company, suggested its safety from the orcs in these lands," Ivy answered honestly, "Would you like some help, we after all borrowed your lodgings."

Beorn eyed her carefully before nodding, tossing an axe in her direction way Ivy caught it easily placing it down beside her to tie her now loose hair in a single braid cast to one side, still hiding her marked ear.

"I should warn you," Ivy began watching him cautiously.

"Warn me of what?"

"The company I travel with there are some dwarves among us." His eyes narrowed at this.

"An elf that travels with dwarves, curious," he mused, looking at her strangely never breaking in his work.

"I grew up with them, they're the only family I have," Ivy admitted sensing that the truth in such matter made such matters easier.

"I do not like dwarves, how many are there?" he growled.

"Thirteen."

Beorn said nothing, thinking for a moment. "You need help, no?"

"Yes."

"First we finish, then I will meet these dwarves and decide."

"Thank you."

As they finished stacking the wood, the pair headed inside. Ivy continued to help him prepare some food, taking a seat around the table once everyone had awoken.

"So you are the one they call Oakenshield. Tell me, why is Azog the Defiler hunting you?" Beorn got straight to the point once everyone gathered around the table.

"You know of Azog? How?" Thorin questioned.

"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. Not for work, you understand, but for sport. Caging skin-changers and torturing them seemed to amuse him." Beorn spoke as he remembered back.

"There are others like you?" Bilbo asked from his seat.

"Once there were many," Beorn recalled.

"And now?" Bilbo pushed on for more information.

"Now there's only one. You need to reach the mountain before the last days of autumn." He answered Bilbo.

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

"You are running out of time."

"Which is why we must go through Mirkwood." Gandalf urged.

"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 warned.

"We will take the Elven Road, their path is still safe," Gandalf stated.

"If there is another road, perhaps it is best, Gandalf," Ivy spoke up hopefully not wanting to head to Mirkwood herself suddenly fear stricken as her past was creeping up a little too quickly.

"Through Mirkwood, we go," Gandalf informed, without argument.

"Safe? The Wood Elves of Mirkwood are not like their kin. They're less wise and more dangerous. But it matters not." Beorn spoke.

"What do you mean?" Thorin questioned.

"These lands are crawling with Orcs, their numbers are growing and you are on foot. You will never reach the forest alive. I don't like dwarves, they're greedy and blind, blind to the lives of those they deem lesser than their own." Beorn spoke eyeing Dwalin before picking up a small mouse he shoved away from him. "But Orcs I hate more. What do you need?"

"To Mirkwood!" Ivy cried sarcastically, hoping that they could get in and out without trouble.

"Go now, while you have the light. Your hunters are not far behind." Beorn warned.

Ivy leapt upon her horse, swallowing the bile that rose her throat as she looked towards Mirkwood.

Author's Notes; Hey, guys here is the new chapter finally. LOL! (I will be posting chapter 9 within the hour because I love you.)

So sorry this has taken as long as it has, but I have mainly been working on From Barmaiden to Princess, still.

Also, quick question I have nearly 13 stories that I am currently working on, on and off, on my laptop, now in opinion would you all prefer I uploading them as I go or wait and finish a few and then post another? Let me know via PM or in a review.

Love ya,

Ivy

Thank you

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lesliemashburn

Pink blade of fury

Makayla D12