Chapter Nineteen
Arirua stood quietly, waiting for the hobbit to come back from his scouting expedition. All around her, the dwarves shuffled around, muttering their worries under their breath. Somewhere in the distance, the star could hear the howls and barks of Azog's warg pack. Her hand tightened on her sword.
Branches snapped behind her and the star turned to see the hobbit rushing back to them as quickly as he could. She walked towards the small path in the mountain side, along with the rest of the Company. Like her, they were all eager to hear the news the small being had for them.
"How close is the pack?" Thorin demanded.
The first few days had been fine. There hadn't been any signs of the warg pack, but early in the morning, before the sun had even risen in the sky, Dwalin had woken everyone from their sleep, telling them that the pack had caught their scent.
"Too close." Bilbo told him, rushing towards them. "A couple of leagues, no more. But that's the worst of it." He slowly came to a stop in the middle of the small pocket in the mountains the Company had taken refuge in.
Arirua felt fear grip her heart.
"Have the wargs picked up our scent?" Dwalin asked him.
"Not yet." he answered, slightly out of breath. "But they will. We have another problem."
"Did they see you?" Gandalf questioned. Bilbo wiped around to look at the tall wizard and everyone's heart stopped for a moment. "They saw you."
"No, that's not it." Bilbo said, trying to sound reassuring, but Arirua could see that something was bothering him.
"What did I tell you?" Gandalf asked the Company with a smile. The star could hear how proud he was of the hobbit. "Quiet as a mouse. Excellent burglar material."
The Company started talking all at once, agreeing whole-heartedly with the wizard.
"Will you listen?" Bilbo said, raising his voice. "Will you just listen? I'm trying to tell you there is something else out there."
"Bilbo," Arirua said softly, making everyone in the group look at her, slightly surprised to hear anything from her, "what did you see?"
The Company all quickly looked at the hobbit, waiting for what he had to say.
But it was Gandalf who spoke.
"What form did it take? Like a bear?"
"Ye—Yes, but bigger." the hobbit stammered, voice filled with surprise. "Much bigger."
"You knew about this beast?" Bofur asked.
"Gandalf," Arirua said, stepping away from Kili who she had been standing next to and towards the wizard, "please tell me it is not whom I think it is."
"I say we double back!" Bofur told the Company. Arirua didn't look at him; she was staring at the wizard's back, waiting for his answer. She knew whom he was thinking about. And although she knew the man was a good, kind man, his other side was not so.
"And be run down by a pack of orcs?" Thorin asked Bofur.
The dwarves instantly began arguing about what to do.
"There is a house." Gandalf said with a loud voice, causing the dwarves to quiet down. He turned to look at them. "It's not far from here, where we might take refuge."
"Whose house?" Thorin asked. "Are they friend or foe?"
Gandalf hesitated and the star could see that he was trying to find an appropriate answer.
"Neither." Arirua answered for him, still looking at the wizard. "Or am I wrong?"
"He will help us or," Gandalf saying slowly, "he will kill us."
Arirua could see the fear cross her friend's faces as they looked at her and at each other.
"What choice do we have?" Thorin demanded.
A roar suddenly filled the space around them, almost rattling the rocks around them.
"None." Gandalf told them.
And then they were on the run again. The descended the low cliffs they had been traveling through quickly and rushed across the lush green field filled that lay on the other side of it. As they crossed the stream that ran through the valley, Arirua stopped and made sure that everyone was still following the wizard. She quickly took up the rear and followed the Company into the small thicket of woods that had grown in the center of the valley. Behind her, she could hear the warg pack, rushing towards them with great speed and something else. Something much bigger.
Suddenly the roaring filled the woods, causing the Company to stop.
"Do not stop!" Arirua yelled at them. "Keep moving!"
"This way!" Gandalf yelled. "Quickly!"
"Hurry Bombur!" the star ordered, grabbing the larger dwarf's shoulder to get him moving. He looked at her with panic and she began pulling him. He quickly picked up speed and began passing up the rest of the Company as they spilled out of the woods and into the valley once more. If this had not been such a serious moment, Arirua would have laughed at the looks the large dwarf got as he passed the rest.
"Into the house!" Gandalf barked. "Quickly!"
The pale blonde woman rushed towards the large gate that stood before them in the middle of the valley. Gandalf stopped at the opening of the gate, motioning the dwarves into the gate. They all rushed to the large door to the house, trying to push it open. The star came to a stop next to the wandering wizard, watching the forest carefully.
She watched as the creature they were running from burst through the trees, still rushing towards them. It was an enormous black bear with scars on his face and his dangerous teeth bared as he snarled at them.
"Open the door!" Gandalf yelled.
"Quickly!"
Arirua rushed to the door and watched Thorin lift the latch.
"Quick!" Arirua ordered, rushing them in. She could almost feel the bear's eyes boring into her back. The Company quickly rushed into the large house and pushed the door closed behind them. But a large nose and mouth of gnashing teeth stopped them.
"Push!" several of the dwarves yelled as they tried to shove the door closed. Beside her, Bilbo drew his sword.
"I do not like this." Arirua told the wizard, glancing over at him. "I have heard stories about this creature, this man. And I have heard that he is not one who cares for dwarves."
"Then he may just have to forgive us for invading his home." Gandalf muttered, as he watched the dwarves finally push the large door shut. Arirua let her body relax ever so slightly.
"I do not believe he will be as forgiving as you wish him to be." Arirua told him softly. The wizard did not reply but she knew he had heard her.
"What is that?" Ori asked, out of breath.
"That is our host." Gandalf answered.
The entire Company, excluding Arirua turned to look at the wizard with looks of horror on their faces.
"His name is Beorn." Gandalf continued. "And he's a skin-changer."
"Sometimes," Arirua said, interrupting Gandalf. She was tired of vague answers and explanations, "he's a huge black bear. And sometimes, a great strong man. The bear is...unpredictable. But the man can be reasoned with. But there is another problem far more important than what he is."
"And what is that?" Dori asked.
"He is not overly fond of dwarves." Gandalf answered the dwarf.
On the other side of the door, Arirua could hear growls but they were fainter than before.
"He's leaving." Ori told them. He had his ear pressed against the large wooden door.
"Come away from there!" Dori said, grabbing Ori's arm, yanking him away from the door. "It's not natural. None of it. It's obvious. He's under some dark spell."
"Don't be a fool. He's under no enchantment but his own." Gandalf told him before taking off his large hat. "All right, now, get some sleep. All of you. You'll be safe here tonight."
Arirua nodded and began walking around, trying to find a suitable place to fall asleep. As she passed the large oxen, she patted their noses, calming them down as much as she could. Above her head buzzed large bees. She smiled. The star liked it here. It was so peaceful with the animals and hay.
The star quickly found a pile of hay, through her cloak down, and curled up on top of it. She felt the hay move on either side of her and felt an arm rest itself on her waist and she knew who it was on either side of her.
She let sleep over take her.
"…Arirua…darkness…everywhere…cannot see…light…war…deaths…fire…war…stop…"
"Sythralen!" Arirua yelled as she started banging on the glass separating her from her friend and the darkness surrounding her.
"…tell him…I…sorry…never meant…happen…love…"
"SYTH!" Arirua screamed, tears streaming down her face. "Syth!"
"…tell him…them…darkness…"
"I will." Arirua promised her. "I will tell them. I will tell him. Just please, do not leave me again!"
And in a moment, the light that had been surrounding Arirua disappeared and in its place was darkness.
Then she felt something grab her by her throat and lift her feet off the ground. The star clawed at her throat, trying to get whatever it was that was holding her to release her but she was met with failure.
She began gasping for air.
The voice then spoke.
It was deep and sounded old, ancient. It was also scratchy as if it hadn't been used for years and years.
"All light will be smothered by darkness." the voice whispered sinisterly. "Even the light of the stars."
And then everything went black.
A/N: Wow! Another chapter! I think this is the fastest I've ever updated back to back!
You guys, we're finally in Desolation of Smaug! *squeal* I am so excited for this part of the journey. LokisGeneral and I have some pretty awesome stuff planned for y'all and I can't wait to see what you think!
Remember, go check out Sythralen's story on LokisGeneral's account so you can keep up!
Also, recently, I published my newest fanfiction, Project Artemis, which is a Captain America/Avengers fanfic! As of this moment, it will be a two book series, but the more I look at it, the more I like the idea of a three book series. BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN!
Please keep in mind, these chapters are all UNEDITED! The wonderful young woman who usually edits them for me is VERY busy right now with her own life and so I don't want to pester her with chapters, so please just forgive the mistakes. I try to catch them myself, but it doesn't always work out...
Anyways, don't forget to comment! I want to hear your questions and feedback, whether it be positive or negative!
Much love to you all and keep an eye out because I had a lot of time to work this weekend and got a lot done so hopefully I'll be updating again soon!
Kisses and internet cookies, RogueStarz