Chapter Four

They had been riding in the tracheal downpour for what seemed like hours. Arirua was nearly soaked to the bone from it. The trail that they had been following had turned to pure mud making it the ride harder than it would be usually. The tall trees of the forest offered as much shelter as they could, but that wasn't much. Most of the dwarves had taken to grumbling about how cold and miserable they were. Of course, they kept it to a dull roar, not wanting Thorin to hear them. While they were riding, Dori, the dwarf with the silvery white hair and multiple braids that wound through his beard, which was held together by a large silver clasp of sorts, and his hair, spoke up.

"Here, Mister Gandalf, can't you do something about this deluge?" he asked.

"It is raining, master dwarf," stated Gandalf, "and it will continue to rain until the rain is done. If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another wizard." Dori gave a slight huff at the wizards answer, as did many of the other dwarves.

"Are there any?" asked Bilbo Baggins. He, unlike the rest of the company, did not bring any kind of cloak or protection from the rain and harsh weather. His normal dirty blonde hair was now darker and plastered to his forehead from the rain.

"What?"

"Other wizards?" Bilbo asked Gandalf.

"There are five of us." explained Gandalf as he continued to ride. "The greatest of our order is Saruman, the White. Then there are the two Blue Wizards," Gandalf's brow furrowed for a moment, "you know, I've quite forgotten their names." Bilbo gave him a slightly raised eyebrow look.

"And who is the fifth?" Bilbo questioned.

"Well, that would be Radagast, the Brown." Gandalf answered. Arirua smiled to herself. She remember meeting Radagast the Brown only once, and it was quite an experience all on its own. Radagast had been such a gentle soul when they had meet.

"Is he a great wizard or is he… more like you?" Bilbo asked. Arirua let out a laugh at the hobbit's comment, causing all the company to look at her, startled. Arirua could see the slight offended look that crossed Gandalf's face.

"I think he's a very great wizard, in his own way. He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals to others. He keeps a watchful eye over the vast forest lands to the East, and a good thing too, for always Evil will look to find a foothold in this world." Gandalf told Bilbo. After that, there was several moments of silence as the company took in what Gandalf had just told them.

Arirua pulled her pale blue hood back slightly, looking up at the still darkened sky. As a raindrop landed on her nose, she smiled. She then clicked quietly to Elenduriel, causing her horse to pick up speed slightly, taking her off the path. She maneuvered Elenduriel through the trees that stood in their way. As she went by, Arirua touched them, feeling the bark and moss that clung to them. She quickly directed Elenduriel back onto the path, pulling up alongside the two younger brothers. Arirua smiled at them as she pulled up alongside them.

"Why the smile?" Fili asked, in a slightly teasing way.

"The rain." she explained.

"The rain? You enjoy this?" Fili asked her, slightly shocked.

"No, of course not." she exclaimed, "The rain is coming to a close." The brothers looked up at the sky and saw the clouds that still blocked away the sun.

"I do not think so Arirua." Kili told her. She just shook her head at their narrow minds.

"I have lived with elves most of my life; trust me, I know the signs of rain." she told them matter-of-factly. The brothers just shook their heads in disbelief.

"How many years have you lived with the elves?" Kili suddenly asked Arirua. She looked at him; it really made her feel good that he genuinely seemed to care about the things she had to say.

"I believe that this will be the twelfth year." she told him as she righted Elenduriel, who had tried to get back off the path again.

"You must have been very young then when you started living with the elves." he said. She nodded. "I believe I was seven when Lord Elrond found me and took me in." she said, thinking about it. "Yes, it was, for it was a couple of weeks before the Feast of Starlight." She smiled at the memory that she had kept stored away.

"That would make you still very young." Kili said without thinking.

Arirua laughed, which sounded so light and airy. "Yes, though it is improper for one to ask a lady her age." she replied with a smirk. She and Fili both laughed at the look that appeared on Kili's face. "It is okay though, I am not that sensitive about it. I am nineteen by human standards; however I am far older than that. But I will not be telling that age." she said with another laugh. Arirua clicked again, allowing Elenduriel to speed up again, leaving behind a dumbfounded Kili and Fili. She laughed to herself as she looked back at their faces.

After leaving the boys behind, Arirua rode by herself. She knew right away that many of the other dwarves didn't care for her company. 'They grow on you.' Bilbo had promised her. But with how things were going so far, she wasn't so sure about that. She shook it off though. Arirua was there to accomplish what they needed her to and then she would return to Rivendell. That was what Lord Elrond had ordered her to do, and though she was not an elf, she still felt that she should follow his wishes.

She sighed. Arirua would never admit it, but she missed Rivendell a great deal. She didn't regret going on the journey, but she was beginning to feel a little homesick. A much similar feeling had happened to her when she had begun living in Rivendell. She had been used to sleeping during the day and staying up during the night. Arirua was used to watching the sun rise, not set. But after a couple of months, she had grown accustom to it. She still missed home. Home… she thought with a sigh. Arirua knew that she wouldn't be able to return there anytime soon. Maybe one day though… she thought to herself. One day I can go back.

While Arirua was thinking about Rivendell and her homeland, she directed Elenduriel with a tight tug on her reins, trying to redirect her horse around a massive mud puddle, with her left arm. Suddenly, the pain that had been going through her arm the previous night was back, stronger and more painful.

Arirua let out a scream of pain, nearly falling out her saddle. She had let go of the reigns and was now cradling her left arm in her right. There were tears streaming from her eyes. Arirua knew that she looked like a weakling but she didn't care. The dwarves would never understand that pain she was experiencing.

When the scream had left the lips of their new companion, the whole company came to a halt and turned and looked at her. For several moments of silence as they looked at her, trying to evaluate what was happening.

It was Bilbo who had spoken first.

"Are you okay Miss Arirua?" he asked. The rest of the company looked at her waiting for an answer. Arirua slowly shook her head.

"Help me. Someone please help." she said barely above a whisper, having curled up slightly in her saddle, protecting her pained arm. Quickly many of the dwarves dismounted, but it was Kili who got to Elenduriel's side first.

"Make it stop." she whispered to him, as he tried to get her off her horse. As she lifted her head, the rain began to drop on her face, mixing with her tears. "Just make it stop."

A/N: Hello lovely readers of Fanfiction... I'm sorry about all the confusion that has been going on lately, first my computer wouldn't upload it and then it uploaded it twice... very annoying. Anyways Chapter 3 #2 has been taken down and here's Chapter 4... It's kinda short but Chapter 5 is coming soon and hopefully will be longer :D

Once more, thanks for all the reviews and favorites and follows and such... they really make my day :D, please keep them coming, they really help me write more... and advice is always welcome :D. Also... Happy New Years... or whatever you might say :D Hope your 2014 will be amazing :D