Hey there peoples! This will be the last chapter for a little while. I'm taking a short break for Nanowrimo this month and i need to focus my brain power! But don't worry! I will be back!
So enjoy this chapter and please review!
You fool. You stupid, stuck up, prideful, fool! These words repeated themselves over and over again as Emi ran after the rest of the company. Her ribs were on fire with pain, jarring agonizingly with every step. Emi knew the bright spots and shadows dancing before her eyes weren't a good thing. But she had no time to worry about it now. She had to keep running.
"Emi, No!" an arm shot out and pulled her back by the collar. Emi looked around in alarm as Thorin pulled her back behind a rock. The rest of the company huddled behind them as Radagast came streaking past, the wargs in hot pursuit. The spots in front of Emi's eyes cleared momentarily as she realized Thorin's arms were holding her to him. She peeked up to see the dwarf lord glaring intensely at the wargs as they passed. The hobbit cursed herself silently as she felt a blush creep up to her cheeks. What was she thinking about at a time like this?
Thorin quickly brushed past her as soon as the wargs were out of sight. The rest of the company followed quickly, Ori grabbing Emi by the arm on the way past and dragging her along. The young scribe shot the hobbit a concerned look, but she brushed it away. The pain was nothing. She could handle it. She hoped.
The next thing Emi was aware of was hiding behind a rock. The sound of claws scraping over stone could be heard. There was a warg right above them. With a nod from his uncle, Kili slowly drew an arrow from his quiver and notched on his bow. Then, turning quickly, he pushed off from the wall and fired at the orc. The creature let out a cry as eh fumbled to blow a horn, but Kili had already loosed another arrow that sent the beast tumbling off the rock into the dwarves' waiting blades. At last, the warg and it's rider lay still. But in the distance, an orcish cry sounded and the howls of hungry wargs followed.
"Move! Run!" Gandalf said, leading the company away. Pine trees began to dot the grassy landscape as Emi continued to struggle forward.
"There they are!" Gloin shouted, pointing ahead of them.
"There's more coming!" Kili yelled from the other side. The company came to a stop.
"Kili, shoot them!" Thorin ordered.
"We're surrounded!" Fili shouted. Emi panted next to Ori.
"Where's Gandalf?" Kili wondered aloud, shooting at the on coming forces.
"He's abandoned us!" Dwalin cursed. Sting felt heavy in her hands as a warg and his rider stalked towards her and Ori. The young dwarf launched a stone at them from his slingshot, but the pebble merely glanced off the warg's flat skull. The warg snarled as its rider grinned evilly. Emi knew she was trembling horribly. The large beast snapped its jaws at them. Ori squeaked and ran, pulling Emi after him. The two did not stop till they were a good distance behind Thorin, who pulled out Orcrist and held it at the ready.
"Hold your ground!" the dwarf lord called to the others as the wargs continued to advance. A few dwarves started in shock as Gandalf appeared from behind a rock.
"This way you fools!" he shouted to the company. And he disappeared again into the ground. A secret passage! The dwarves quickly retreated to the rock and slid down the incline. Emi followed, tripped, fell, landed on her injury, and promptly passed out.
The hobbit sleepily opened her eyes. Bright light filtered into the room. For a moment she thought she was back in Hobbiton. The comfy pillow beneath her head, the soft blanket covering her small form. She was home again. Then she opened her eyes. The sight that met her eyes was most definitely not Hobbiton. It was too beautiful. And though, the hobbit had never been there, she knew exactly where she was.
Rivendell.
Emi sat up, feeling bandages around her lower chest move against the loose white shirt she was wearing. The pain was almost completely gone. She could only feel a faint throbbing if she focused on it. The hobbit looked around the room, but froze almost immediately. Her eyes were met with a cold, steely blue gaze.
Why Thorin was sitting in the only chair in the room staring at her angrily, Emi had no idea. She did know however, that she was in trouble. Big trouble. She gulped nervously.
"Tell me, burglar," the dwarf's deep voice rumbled furiously. "Just what made you think that hiding your injury from me was a good idea?" For a moment, Emi was terrified. Then she wasn't.
"Well excuse me if I didn't feel like getting reprimand again for something that I had no control over!" the hobbit snapped. Thorin's brow lowered. "Maybe if you weren't such a negative jerk all the time, I wouldn't need to hide the fact that I got injured because of your nephew's stupid ideas!"
"So you're blaming me for this?" the dwarf hissed quietly, anger clearly bubbling underneath his skin. Emi fell silent. Thorin stood angrily and walked to the door. Without turning around, he spoke again. "As long as you are a member of my company. You will report any injuries without any hesitation. Am I understood?"
"Yes sir." The hobbit spat back. And she was alone. Emi let out a loud groan and flopped back against her pillow. An elf walked in presently. Emi could not help but stare at him. His features were uncannily polished.
"Ah, Emilie Brandybuck." The elf smiled. "It's good to see that you are awake. Though I'm surprised anyone could sleep with a furious dwarf glaring at them the entire time." The elf chuckled to himself as he poured a glass of water from a beautiful ornate pitcher. He handed the glass to Emi who took a grateful sip.
"I don't understand dwarves." She admitted sourly. The dark haired elf chuckled again.
"I welcome you to Rivendell Ms. Brandybuck." He smiled. "I am Elrond."
"Lord Elrond?" Emi's eyes widened in shock.
"Indeed." The elf said good-naturedly. "Your friends are already dining if you feel well enough to join them."
"Yes, of course." Emi nodded, face falling slightly.
"Please, do not push yourself." Elrond told her. "I'm sure they would understand if you were not up to it yet. Though they seemed very worried about you." Emi looked up at him.
"Really?" she asked in honest surprise. "Oh… well, yes, I'm feeling much better now." Elrond nodded quietly.
"Very well," he said. "I will send in someone to help you dress."
"Thank you." Emi smiled as the elf lord left. Emi got out of bed as another elf entered moments later. She carried a simple silken dress in one arm. It was a light purple color with silver vines along the bottom and sleeves. After dressing, Emi made her way to the balcony on which the others were dining. Several of the dwarves smiled broadly as she sat down next to Balin at one of the tables.
"Feeling better lass?" the old dwarf asked kindly.
"Much, thank you." Emi replied. Bofur leaned over from the other table.
"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes." He winked. Emi smiled back and turned to her plate. Salad and bread. It wasn't much, but the hobbit quickly dug in, realizing instantly how starving she was. After a few rolls, Emi was feeling much perkier and she began looking around, enjoying the other's conversations.
"Can't say a fancy elf maids myself." Kili spoke up, seeing Dwalin's gaze on him. "All high cheek bones and creamy skin. Not enough facial hair for me." Dwalin continued to glare. "Though," Kili added. "That one there's not bad." Dwalin looked up at the waiter passing by and smiled, leaning over the table.
"That's no elf maid, lad." Kili paled and looked behind him quickly. The table burst out laughing as Kili turned back around, a sheepish expression on his face.
"Very funny." He sulked as the table continued to laugh loudly. Emi could not help but chuckle, but she caught Thorin's eyes on her and the hobbit's smile immediately dropped away. Emi focused again on her food, one ear listening to Lord Elrond speak of the swords found in the troll cave. He spoke of Glamdring and Orcrist, both forged by his answers. Emi glanced down at her own sword that had been returned to her before she joined the others.
"I wouldn't bother lass." Balin whispered next to her. "Swords are named for the great deeds they do in war."
"What are you saying?" Emi asked, a little hurt. "My sword hasn't see battle?" Balin hesitated before replying.
"I'm not actually sure it is a sword." He said at last. "More of a letter opener really." Emi frowned and turned her attention back to the other conversation.
"How did you come by these?" Lord Elrond asked in surprise.
"We found them in a troll hoard on the great east road." Gandalf replied excitedly. "Shortly after we were ambushed by orcs!"
"And what were you dong on the great east road?" Elrond asked curiously. No one answered, at last, Thorin stood.
"Excuse me." He said and left. Emi's eyes followed him out, a look of concern on her face. Quietly, Emi excused herself as well and followed after the dwarf lord, Bofur's voice began singing in the background as the hobbit wandered away from the feast. The hobbit walked a few minutes before she at last came upon Thorin, overlooking one of Rivendell's many balconies. Seeing them standing there, Emi had half a mind to just turn around and rejoin the others. She was mentally punching herself as she walked forward a bit further.
"Is everything alright?" her voice asked involuntarily. Thorin looked up in surprise. I am in so much trouble now. Emi fretted. But, to her surprise, Thorin's expression softened slightly.
"Yes." He sighed. "It's just these elves. They ask too many questions." Emi hesitantly walked over to stand next to him, also looking out over the balcony.
"Well, you don't have to tell them the truth." She shrugged. Thorin gave her a hard stare before turning away again.
"I am a man of my word Miss Brandybuck." He said. "I will not fall into deceit of any sort." Emi looked at him.
"That's very admirable." She said at last. Thorin merely hummed in reply. "But as long as you're not hurting anyone by it, I don't see the harm in a little white lie every once in awhile."
"And that is why you are the burglar, Miss Brandybuck, and I am not." Thorin replied. Emi glared at him out of the corner of her eye. "Once you tell one lie, where will you stop?"
"So you've never lied?" the hobbit asked hotly.
"I did once…" Thorin admitted. After a silence, it was clear the dwarf king was not going to elaborate.
"Did you know that if someone says they are a liar, they are assuredly telling the truth?" Emi said, in a conversational tone. Thorin shot her an amused glance. "Because if they are a liar, they are telling the truth. But if they don't lie, then they are lying about lying and are therefore a liar."
"Then tell me, Miss Brandybuck." Thorin smiled. "Are you a liar?" Emi smiled back.
"I am." She replied. Thorin nodded at her honesty. "But I'd never lie to my friends."
"And would you lie to me?" he asked quietly, raising an eyebrow at the hobbit. Emi gazed back calmly.
"No." she smiled at last. "I would not lie to you." Thorin smiled as well.
"Of course, I can never be sure if that is the truth." The dwarf pointed out. Emi grinned.
"True." She nodded. Both looked behind them in surprise as the cheers of dwarves sounded from the dining hall. "Sounds like they're making themselves at home." The hobbit laughed. Thorin chuckled as well.
"We've all been on the road often enough to know that we must do it for survival." He nodded. "It has been too long since any of us were at our homes in the Blue Mountains." Emi's smile dropped as she saw the sadness in the dwarf king's eyes.
"Ah! There you are Thorin!" Gandalf's voice called from behind them. The two turned around again to see the wizard, Balin, and Lord Elrond coming towards them. "And Emilie too, perfect. Come along, the night draws near."
^-^ So I tried to have a little Emi/Thorin moment. Please tell me what you thought!