I hope that you guys are finding this interesting.
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Howls echoed throughout the country as the company ran. Orcs and their wolves, Edward then found out they were wargs, were hunting them and have been chasing them for days. The company made it to a massive labyrinth of rocks where they then heard the riders come closer.
Thorin talked to Bilbo and the hobbit started clambering up a nearby rock. The hobbit looked around then quickly ducked and slid back down.
"Did they see you." Thorin gruffly whispered.
"Quiet, they're around the corner." Bilbo whispered back.
"Stay here." Edward said and started approaching the turn. The dwarves kept quiet so as not to give away their position. Edward reached the corner and peeked around. Sure enough there were to riders there. Both were dismounted and looking around as their wargs sniffed the further bushes. Edward softly whistled to get the orcs attention. One orc turned its head and started walking towards the corner, as the dwarves quietly freaked out about Edwards decision, while drawing his scimitar. Then in the blink of an eye Edward spun around and plunged his blade into the orcs throat. He grabbed it and silently slid it back around the corner and pulled out his blade.
The other orc turned and noticed the absence of his companion and walked over to the corner. The second he got close he met the same fate as his fellow rider. After Edward killed the orcs he motioned to the company to stay put and started climbing up the rocks. As soon as he got to the top he raised his hood and crouched low at started to walk over to where the wargs searched. Noticing the rest of the pack further off still looking he pounced on the pair of wargs and killed them with his blades.
"All clear." Edward said.
The company came around the corner and saw the wargs behind Edward.
"You are very skilled master Kenway." Thorin stated. The group started murmuring in agreement but were cut off by a roar.
"That is no warg." Gandalf spoke.
"We should backtrack." Dori said. (Or was it Dwalin. Too many names.)
"We'll get run down by a pack of orcs." Thorin discouraged.
"There is one place where we might take refuge." Gandalf suggested.
"Who are they? Are they friend or foe?" Thorin questioned.
"Neither. He will help us or… He will kill us." Gandalf said gloomily.
"What choice do we have?" Thorin spoke.
"None." Gandalf said, his words accompanied by another roar.
Soon the company made it into a forest. Some of the dwarves were tiring out from the running but Gandalf pressed on.
"Come on you fools his house is near." Gandalf beckoned.
"Pretty spry for an old man." Edward muttered.
The group started to protest but were cut off again by another roar. Gandalf gestured and started running again. The broke out of the tree line and noticed a house a short while off. The group kept running with Edward taking up the rear to help stragglers. It was mainly big Bombur he would help but this time Bombur was moving like a harpooned shark. He passed everyone as an enormous bear broke out of the tree line.
They kept their panicked course but Kili tripped, he fell flat on his face but before he started to get up Edward stopped and hoisted Kili onto his shoulder. They were already far behind and the bear was closing.
"Close the door I be there soon." Edward shouted. He hoisted a protesting Kili onto his shoulder and ran for his life. He noticed a pile of wooden crates at one side of the wall so he ran towards that and leapt gracefully up the boxes. He could feel the foul breath of the bear heaving like a heartbeat behind him but he got to the top of the wall and without stopping leapt off towards the roof of the house that lay behind it.
"Brace yourself." Edward said calmly to a screaming Kili.
"Are you crazy!" Kili shouted. They were in midair when he spoke and they crashed through a roof window and landed with a thud. Edward got up and released Kili who was in shock from the experience.
"Oh come on lad it wasn't that bad." Edward reassured.
"Next…time…just…let me …die." Kili said, still in shock.
"He's leaving." One of the dwarfs said.
"Get away from there. It's not natural, none of it. Let's face it he's under some dark spell." Another spoke.
"He is under no enchantment but his own." Gandalf said sharply. "His name is Beorn. He is a skin changer. Sometimes he is a great bear, other times he is a big strong man. The bear is unpredictable but the man can be reasoned with. Lie down and rest. You will be safe here tonight. I hope."
That night Edward sat next to a sleeping Bilbo thinking about the past events. He was startled by a few creaks at the back of the house. He grabbed one of his pistols and peaked around the corner. He saw a tall muscular figure walk into view but proceed to another part of the house.
Edward took that as a sign of peace. He holstered his pistol and sat back against the wall with a sigh. He had little time to think. The second they started moving down the staircase of Carrock, the howls of wargs filled the air and they were running for their lives. He had little time to think. Edward stuck mainly with Gandalf. Gandalf was a mystery as well as a friend. He claims to have 'walked many lifetimes of men' he looked as if he needed to stay at home in a chair and wait to die as Edward would expect from a man of his appearance. Edward was very intrigued with this world. Men, elves dwarves, dragons, eagles, orcs, and wargs. It was like being in a children's story.
Thorin had eventually come to trust Edward. Thorin, Edward thought, was a good man but very stubborn. He said he was a king of this lost land he talks about but Edward decided not to believe it until he saw it.
Edward, for the first time in a few weeks, slept well.
That morning Edward was up earlier than everyone except Gandalf and the man, Beorn. He walked over to a table where they sat talking.
"Sorry about your roof." Edward said taking a seat.
"It is replaceable. Here eat." The man said sliding a plate of bread and cheese towards Edward.
"Edward this is Beorn our host. Beorn this is Edward Kenway, our newest member." Gandalf said.
Edward nodded politely and started eating the food Beorn gave him.
"That weapon you held last night what was it?" Beorn asked.
Edward swallowed the food and replied. "You mean this one?" Edward pulled out his golden flintlock.
"Yes what is it?" Thorin all of the sudden spoke as he and the dwarves came up to the table.
"It is a pistol." Edward said placing it on the table.
Kili reached for it to pick it up but Edward snatched it up and re-holstered it.
"This is nothing like a bow. It use gunpowder to shoot this." Edward explained holding up his pistol ammo.
"Gunpowder?" Gandalf said, confused.
"Have any of you heard of black powder or flash powder?" Edward asked hoping it would ring a bell.
"Ah I have my own type of flash powder." Gandalf said as a smile crept onto his face.
"You make some excellent fireworks." Bilbo said walking up to the table.
"Finally." Edward said, happy that they had an idea.
"So you are the one they call Oakenshield." Beorn said, pouring Fili some cream.
"Tell me why is Azog the Defiler hunting you?" He asked.
Edward zoned out of the conversation to eat but he heard Beorn speak.
"I don't like dwarves, there're greedy, and blind, blind to those whose lives they deem lesser than their own." Beorn said, picking up a white mouse and looking like he was about to crush it.
"But I hate orcs more." He said putting down the mouse. "What do you need?"
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Beorn had provided beautiful horses for them to use in their travels. They prepared to set out, making sure everything was ready.
"Get moving you're hunters are not far behind." Beorn said turning to the forest.
"Thank you Beorn." Gandalf said. Beorn made no reply and marched into the forest.
The company began cantering through Beorn's fields towards the forest of Mirkwood. They heard the roar of Beorn in bear form.
They reached the forest edge and dismounted.
"What kind of a forest is this?" Edward said looking at the strange forest.
He grabbed his supplies off his horse and they all sent them on their way except for Gandalf's.
"Edward." Gandalf called while he mounted his horse. Edward walked over to the wizard.
"I cannot go with you right now so give me your word that you will protect the company." He said as worry lingered in his eyes.
"What do you mean leaving?" Edward asked.
"I have something I must do. This cannot be ignored and while I trust Thorin, his will for his prize can blind him. Don't let it blind you my boy, be a voice of reason and a beacon of light to the dwarves. Do not stray from the path. If you do, you will be lost."
"I will Gandalf." Edward said. Gandalf called to his horse and mounted it. He nodded to Edward and galloped off.
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Edward felt as if his was being smothered slowly by a blanket as the company followed a brick road through the forest. He managed to keep a level head even though the company seemed to be going crazy.
Edward kept to the path as Gandalf ordered. He made sure to double check because he felt the air of the forest trying to dull his senses. He rounded a corner and found that the path was gone. He looked around and saw no other turn just a solid drop. Edward picked up a rock and tossed it over the drop and watched the ill-fated stone fall to an unknown peril. Edward's mind began to panic. Follow the road. How? What road? The dwarves merely vocalized Edward's thoughts with similar questions.
"The sun!" Bilbo all but shouted. "We have to find the sun." He started climbing the nearby tree followed by Edward. They reached the top of the forest and were amazed.
The tree glimmered in the sunlight as the sun prepared its slumber. They looked around and managed to spot the lonely mountain sitting in powerful majesty before a lake.
"I see a lake!" Bilbo shouted down. "And the Lonely Mountain! We are close. Can you hear me?" Bilbo looked down into the dark forest.
"Come on." Edward said. He and Bilbo made their way back down but were met with a discouraging sight.
The company was gone. The area was empty, there was no sign of the dwarves. A single ax was left on the ground and tiny white wisps of web lay around it.
"Somethings wrong."
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Cliffhanger. Please review.