Chapter 12
"I will kill Azog."
They nodded.
"And we will help." Kili said.
I shook my head.
"No Kili my friend. This is something I must do alone. My whole life I thought my parents had abandoned me because they did not want me. I hated them for it. Now I find I was so very wrong and I feel horrible."
"You sound like Thorin." said the hobbit.
We all looked at him.
"Aye he is right. You do." Bofur said.
"Is this the reason you are always so silent?" Bilbo questioned.
They looked at me waiting for an answer.
"I have always been very quiet. It is just who I am, save in times of anger. Which I believe you have seen first hand," I began. They smiled and nodded. "but I was also raised speaking elvish. I was taught to speak in the common tongue by one of the elves there. I barely remember him. I cannot even recall his name. He was my first friend. I have not been back to the Woodland Realm since."
"But what of Thorin?" Kili asked.
"What of him?"
"He too will wish to kill Azog."
I smiled and nodded.
"So long as I am with him….I care not if he personally kills him. If I am not the one to kill him, I will want to watch him die." I said.
"So long as you and Thorin live I care not who kills the orc." squeaked Bilbo.
I smiled and nodded.
"I think it would be wise if you all went to try and sleep." I said.
They nodded and as they walked out the door I heard a gasp. I smiled, for I knew that Thorin had been outside the door listening all the time.
I woke up early that next morning, before the sun. As I walked outside I found Beorn. I took a deep breath and approached him.
"You are Beorn?" I asked.
He looked at me and nodded. I bowed low and respectfully.
"I owe you my life. I believe it is twice now…..you have saved me." I said.
"So your friends told you." He said.
I looked at him and nodded.
"You are much bigger now. You look like your mother. I could hardly believe my eyes when the dwarf and wizard came with you. I never though I would see you again." He said.
I smiled a little.
"You must have your father's eyes."
I looked back up at him.
"Was he not with her?"
"That he was, though I did not meet him. The sword you bear is his. She left it with me when she gave me you. I took you to the elves for I could not have raised you. I told them your story and it was they who chose to never tell you certain things. I was never told your name nor that of your parents. All they said was that if they had not returned by morning…..they would never return. That is all they told me." He explained.
I was silent for a long while. I sighed and said,
"Thank you Beorn. For all you have done."
He nodded.
"The dwarf king is very fond of you." He said.
"I….."
He waited for me to go on, but I knew not how. He smiled and laughed a deep rolling laugh.
"And it would appear you care for….."
"Shhh! He cannot know of this! It would only put his life in danger." I said quickly.
"I do not understand your way of thinking, but I shall not breath a word." He promised.
I thanked him and then looked over at Thorin's sleeping form. In the short time I had known him, he had come to mean so much to me. If ever I lost him….I dared not think it!