The eagles put them down atop the Carrock, gently placing Thorin down last. And when the king came to thanks to Gandalf's magic, he asked weakly, "The Halfling?"
Gandalf answered while Bilbo came forward. "It's alright. He's right here. He's quite safe."
"You!" he growled, finding new strength to stand. "What were you doing? You nearly got yourself killed! Did I not say that you would be a burden? That you would not survive in the wild and that you had no place among us!" And then abruptly he pulled Bilbo into a hug. "I've never been so wrong in all my life!" He pulled back to look at Bilbo with a smile (much to Bilbo's shock). "Your sister was right about you. Where is she?"
A hush settled over the company as they all looked around, the silence becoming thicker as the seconds ticked by. All eyes glued to the floor, not wanting to be the one to break the awful news to their leader.
"She was defending you still when I was picked up," whispered Bilbo becoming a shade more pale.
Thorin's head dipped to match the company. But in the moment of mourning silence a distant whoop and caw could be faintly heard. Their heads snapped up to see Beth astride a great eagle with her arms held stretched out in imitation flight. She was majestic, and in that moment, absolutely fearless.
They watched as she landed and slid down the eagle's side a little clumsily, stumbling as her feet hit the floor. She turned to her mount and dipped into a small curtsy and the eagle bowed its head in turn.
"Thank you," they heard her say. "I hope that we may meet again one day."
"That is also my hope," the eagle replied in turn and took flight. Beth watched the eagle fly off a moment before she turned to address the group. She had both hands on her hips and her head was tilted to the side.
"Did I keep you waiting?" she asked cheekily. The hobbit woman then proceeded to throw her arms around Bilbo in a brief (but tight. Very tight) hug.
She turned to Thorin who was just beside her and pulled the shield off her arm, handing it to him with a sheepish smile on her face. "Take it as an apology for the slap. I was out of line."
The entire right sleeve of her tunic had been ripped off at some point in the series of events they had just gone through. As soon as the shield came off her arm, Thorin could see the extent of the damage. A huge purple bruise covered most of her shoulder, disappearing under her tunic. Just above her elbow a set of bloody, angry teeth marks stood out. And the better part of her forearm was covered in an array of scrapes, bruises, and blood, which made the skin look more red than the porcelain he knew it was supposed to be. And yet she still wore a smile that melted his heart.
He grabbed her suddenly and embraced her tightly. She wrapped her arms around his middle in response.
"You're hurt," he told her.
"I'm okay," she responded.
"I was wrong."
She smiled. "I know."
"I vow to take your council from this point forward."
She looked up, smiling mysteriously and said, "Well then you'd better turn around."
His forehead creased but he did as she bid, and he never regretted it. The lonely mountain painted the horizon and Thorin could not stop his own smile from forming.
The general consensus after taking the majority of the day to get off the platform was that they needed water, and they needed food. And while replenishing their bodies was sounding like an amazing prospect, Beth could only dream of one thing.
A bath.
A sweet, probably cold but still amazing bath. She could feel the dried blood melting out of her matted hair already. And it was no surprise to Beth that Gandalf seemed to know the perfect lazy stream.
They set up camp not far away from the water and broke off into small groups to go bathe while the others started the fire and food. Beth opted to go last, deciding she would get more time in the glorious clean water if no one was waiting on her. The anticipation was killing her.
"I think Gandalf knows exactly where we are," announced Beth as Bilbo came back from his bath, looking almost like a respectable hobbit again.
"And a good thing too," replied Bilbo. "Because I needed a bath almost as bad as you do."
They grinned at each other and Beth reached out to playfully smack his arm. "You were brilliant," she told him.
His grin widened. "Was I? I personally liked when you swung that stick. What on Middle Earth possessed you to even do that?"
"I got jealous. No one gets to hurt my boys except for me," she joked back.
"Yes, speaking of which," Bilbo began, putting on a stern face. Oh dear, she though, he was getting into big brother mode. "Beth, you know that I love you, and that at the end of the day I just want you to be happy. So when I say you and Thorin looked a little too cozy on the Carrock today, I mean that I don't want you to get hurt."
She blushed and smiled, though it seemed sad to Bilbo. "I know I haven't got a chance with Thorin, Bilbo. It's just a crush; let me enjoy the moments as they happen. If I get hurt it's my own stupid fault and you can say 'I told you so.'"
Bilbo looked unconvinced for a moment, but relented with a nod. And very timely, Thorin, Fili, and Kili emerged from the shadows of the forest, hair still wet but now clean.
Thorin approached the two to tell her, "The river is yours to use now. Will you be fine on your own? I could keep watch if that is what you'd prefer."
"He'd like that," muttered Kili to Fili loud enough for all to hear.
Beth laughed and pat Thorin's (muscular) arm. "I'll be fine. You can come if you hear me scream." She then proceeded down the path to the river, resisting the urge to follow her comment with, 'That's what she said.'
One good thing came of her multiple concussions, she thought. At no point in the general clusterfuck that happened did it ever occur to her to take her bag off her back. So while it may have been as dirty as she was, inside still sat a bar of soap and that lovely blue dress the elves gave her. And clean underwear. God bless the head injuries.
At this point it was safe to say that everyone in the company could plainly see the attraction between Beth and Thorin, except perhaps, for Thorin himself. So when Balin approached Fili and Kili with his suggestion, there were no complaints from either party. "He just needs a push in the right direction," he told them.
"I don't understand what's stopping them now," shrugged Kili.
"I think it's both more and less complicated than we think," suggested Balin. "I believe Thorin is holding himself back because she is of hobbit kind. He is the king, after all, and certain things are expected of him. He doesn't seem to realize that despite not being of dwarvish decent, she is still considered royalty. The King's Council has been part of dwarvish prophesy for many ages now. So of course, no problems should arise from this union except of course getting it started."
Fili smirked. "So what you're suggesting is, we get to go off and play matchmaker?"
Balin smiled. "That may just be what I'm suggesting. But you didn't hear it from me."
"Hear what?" called Kili over his shoulder as the two wasted no time making a bee-line for their uncle. Their uncle who was typically brooding, staring into the fire. Fili and Kili took up a spot on either side of their uncle and innocently settled in.
Kili kicked off their project by loudly asking his brother, "Fili, do you remember Beth this morning on the back of that eagle?"
"I do, brother, I do," responded Fili happily. "She was a true vision if I ever saw one in all my life. She may as well have owned the world as she flew over to us."
"An angel with golden hair," sighed Kili
"A queen in the air!"
"And how she fights! I've never seen a fiercer woman."
"Except for mother, perhaps."
"I think mother would quite like her."
"I think I'm in love," sighed Fili dramatically, almost causing Kili to choke on his own spit and give away their game.
"I think she's out of your league," Thorin finally commented.
"I think he might be right, Fili," commented Kili. "I think she might make a better match for uncle."
"What makes you say that, Kili?" the brother asked conversationally.
"I think she may just be the first woman to make him smile since our dear mother. Plus, did you see that slap?"
"Enough of this foolishness," Thorin cut in.
"Well, alright," shrugged Fili. "But at least enjoy the view with me."
He nodded towards the direction Beth was walking towards them in the dress the elves gave her. Only the whole bottom skirt was torn off to her knees and her right arm was bandaged with the salvaged material.
Fili leaned over to his uncle and whispered, "You know, I think it would be considered a great honour to wed a living prophesy. And a greater honour to wed such a beauty."
Thorin said nothing, opting instead to watch Beth make her way over to them, stopping at each member of the company for a word or exchange. When she made her way over, Fili made a big show of getting up and helping her settle down right next to Thorin. She simply laughed and played along, also making a big show of being flattered and thanking him profusely.
"So I'm told by Gloin that this is an inappropriate skirt length," she announced jovially.
"I'm not complaining!" cheered Kili.
Fili patter her arm. "It is a fine length for traveling with friends…and entertaining in the bedroom."
Thorin smacked Fili upside the head. "You ought to be more respectful to a lady. Have I not taught you better?" he scolded.
"It's fine," she consoled with a giggle. "I am with friends, and tonight this clearing is our bedroom. How lucky for all of you to share it with me!" The brothers cheered and laughed and she could have sworn she even saw Thorin crack a smile. "Either way," Beth continued, "it's lovely by the fire and I intend to go to sleep soon. I hope you all like cuddles, because anyone within arm's reach is likely to be subject to my unconscious affections."
Thorin thought he might very much enjoy her subconscious affections.
"Two by two," said Gandalf. "There is no way to tell what sort of temperament our host may be in at any given time. I will take Bilbo with me first. Thorin, I suggest you take Beth with you when I whistle."
And with that he was walking away with Bilbo trailing behind, trying to take everything in around them. Beth couldn't blame him in the slightest; she too was trying to look at everything. Not to mention how strange everything was! The honey bees were huge!
Thorin watched as one of the large insects landed on her nose. She crossed her eyes and giggled at the creature before it flew away. He heard the whistle and held out his arm for her to take. "My lady."
Beth blushed pink and Thorin couldn't have been more pleased that he had caused the pretty flush of colour. Further back, some of the dwarves were grinning and nudging each other, making fun but happy for their leader. She took his arm with a shy smile and the pair walked through the beautiful garden. Thorin felt his heart speed up and offered a small smile in turn. Before they knew it, they had arrived at a large cabin with the largest, hairiest man Beth had ever seen.
Bowing, Thorin introduced himself, "Thorin Oakenshield, at your service."
"Beorn, and I do not require your service."
Beth smiled at Beorn's abruptness and dropped into a curtsy. "Beth Baggins. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Beorn."
"This is Bilbo's sister," explained Gandalf.
The huge bear-man bent down to her level and without hesitation Beth placed a hand on his upper arm in greeting. He looked surprised at first, and then delighted. "Well met, Beth." He turned to Thorin next. "You and your intended are welcome here for the night."
"Oh," Beth squeaked and blushed. "He is not my intended, but I thank you just the same."
Beorn laughed, "Ah, I had wondered how a dwarf could win the affections of such a gentle creature!"
Bilbo laughed the hardest at the jest, because he knew such affections were already won. And he had a clear view of Beth's wild blush and Thorin's scowl.
The dwarves were all given shelter for the night, mostly thanks to Gandalf's telling of their crazy adventure thus far. As they all sat at the dinner table, Fili and Kili started in on their own version of the story, starring Beth and her bravery and heroism.
"And then she said, 'Does it matter?'!"
A great bellow of laughter burst from the room. Bofur shook his head and added, "I couldn't have done it better myself."
"And of course," continued Kili, "let's not forget when she took that tree branch, almost as big as she is, and whacked Azog right over the head with it! I watched as that branch splintered under the strength of her swing and the thickness of his skull!"
Then Gandalf added as well, "And just when we thought she had been lost to us, the hobbit came in riding on an eagle with her arms spread to catch the wind. So the eagle told me later, she retrieved Thorin's oaken shield before taking a leap of faith off the edge of the cliff, into the air."
The company looked to her with respect and reverence and Beth ducked down behind her tankard of milk and shrugged.
Thorin cleared his throat. "I do believe what my nephew said in Rivendell may yet hold true. One day, there will be songs about Lady Beth the Brave."
"The gallant!" cried Ori.
"The fair," said Fili with a comical eyebrow wiggle.
"The cunning," pitched in Balin with a wink.
"The embarrassed," jested Beth, which earned another chorus of laughter.
As dinner wound down, arrangements were made for the next day. Beorn told them that they would be safe inside, which was more than enough motivation for the company to stay in. Beth lay down and waiting for the snores to start up before she shuffled her way over to where Thorin lay. After dinner, she watched him brood more intensely than she had seen recently and was concerned.
She settled in on her back beside him and whispered, "Are you okay?"
He also adjusted so that they lay beside each other on their backs, their arms pressed against each other's. "I am fine," he told her lowly.
Beth shivered involuntarily in response to his low voice. It was sexy as hell. And here she was, lying right beside him, her arm pressed against his much more sexy, muscular one.
"Are you cold?" he asked.
Grateful for a cover and thankful that the dark hid her blush she whispered back, "A little."
Thorin turned over onto his side and wrapped a muscled arm around her. Beth froze for half a moment before relaxing. Deciding that this would not happen every day, she rolled over to face him so she was firmly tucked into his chest, hugging him back.
"Azog scares me," she confided. It had been in the back of her mind since the night they were cornered. Being a believer in the good of the world, it scared her to see a being so purely evil.
Thorin was silent for a moment before deciding to open up, "He frightens me as well."
"I'll protect you," she mumbled sleepily.
Thorin could not help but smile and planted a light kiss on her forehead. And in each other's embrace they fell asleep.
Beth woke well before the rest of the company, as was custom for her. She was pleased to find herself still wrapped in Thorin's arms. Beth took a deep breath of him in, enjoying his musk and snuggled in further briefly. In a daring move before she got up, Beth snuck a kiss onto his cheek and wriggled out of his arms to stand and stretch.
Thorin, however, was already awake. In fact, he would tell her later that he had woken a scant few minutes before her, enjoying their embrace too much to leave. When he felt her kiss, he silently vowed one day to make her his queen. But now was not the time to blow his cover.
Across the cabin, Beth found Beorn setting aside provisions for them. Quietly, Beth fell in beside him and started packing what he had laid out. "I am told by Gandalf that you are the product of a prophesy," commented the bear-man.
"So it would seem," Beth said back dryly, rolling her eyes a little. The whole being a prophesy was getting a little old, in her opinion. She certainly didn't feel any different than before. "Personally, I like to think there's more to me than just some prophesy."
Beorn smiled. "I should think so. Still, for the novelty, I would like to ask if the King's Council has any council for me. My people did not keep kings but…"
Beth paused to study him. She spotted the shackles on his wrists and pulled a pin from her hair. Without asking, Beth reached up and tugged on the first hand. With calm curiosity, Beorn watched as the small girl picked the locks one by one.
Holding both of his huge hands in her smaller ones she looked him full and the face and told him, "Never give up hope."