Giving up finding the person who owned the mysterious voice Hilary walked back to her sleeping mat that Nori owned, he didn't need it because he was taking first watch. Most of the dwarves retired for the night but some sat up braiding their beards and stargazing. Hilary lay on the mat looking up at the sky. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep that night for two reasons

1 Bombour was sleeping beside her and his snoring was loud enough to wake the dragon Smaug

2 Her mind was running a mile a minute. The voice told her that her Father was not killed at sea and that there was nothing to be afraid of. That wasn't entirely true; there was a fear of finding out the real reason for her Fathers death. What if something worse happened to him? Was he torn apart by one of those wolf beasts that attacked her in the forest?

She closed her eyes as they started to water. Her mind showed her images of these events; they were even more heartbreaking than the story her Mother told her because there was nothing to question, there was no what if he died this way or maybe he was attacked.

A shrill screech in the distance pulled her out of her thoughts. She sat up quickly and faced the direction where the sound came from. Bilbo scurried back to the group pointing in the direction the screech came from

"What was that?"

Hilary looked up at Kili and Fili who gripped their weapons a little tighter "Orcs" Kili whispered, he looked down at Hilary and saw the panic in her eyes he gave her a reassuring smile. Her first meeting with an Orc wasn't the best, well who ever has a pleasant meeting with an Orc anyway?

"Orcs!?" Bilbo exclaimed looking worried

"Throat cutters, there'll be dozens of them out there. The low lands are crawling with them" Fili answered

"They strike in the wee hours of the night, while everyone is asleep. Quick and quiet; no screams, just lots of blood" added Kili. Hilary scooted a little bit closer to the young dwarves seeking protection. The two dwarves noticed this and snickered to each other.

"You think it's funny? You think a night raid by Orcs is a joke?" Thorin's voice boomed from the shadows. Kili and Fili looked down, the smirks that were once on their faces were gone and was replaced by a gilty frown. Kili looked up apologetically "We didn't mean anything by it, sorry Uncle" he looked down again too ashamed to meet his Uncles glaring gaze. Thorin walked over to the mountains edge "No you don't, you know nothing of the world" he bitterly spoke.

Hilary cocked an eyebrow up at the elder dwarf standing near. Balin noticed her questioning look and made his way over

"Don't worry lassie, Thorin has more reason then most to hate Orcs." There was a pause and soon most of the dwarves woke up and turned to Thorin who was gazing across the tree tops, Balin continued, "After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain, King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient dwarf kingdom of Moria. But our enemy had gotten there first. Moria had been taken by vicious Orcs, led by the most vile of all their race, Azog the Defiler. The giant Orc had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin" Balin glanced over to Thorin before continuing the tale "He began by beheading the king."

Hilary looked over in Thorin's direction, his back was straight and one foot was placed on a rock to give himself more height, the story continued, "Thrain, Thorin's father, was driven mad by grief. He went missing. Taken prisoner or killed, we do not know. We were leaderless. We thought that death was upon us. That is when I saw him." A smile lit up Balin's face and he turned toward Thorin.

"A young dwarf prince, facing down the pale Orc. He stood alone against this terrible foe. His armor was wiped off, wielding nothing, but an oaken branch as a shield. Azog the Defiler learned that day that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken."

"The forces rallied. They drove the Orcs back. Our enemy had been defeated. But there was no feast nor songs that night for our dead were beyond the count of grief. We few had survived. And I thought to myself then, there is one who I could follow. There is one I can call king." Balin finished looking up at Thorin proudly

Hilary looked up at the dwarf king as he turned around; it was too dark to look at his facial features but she could see him walking through the group of dwarves who stood in his honor. He radiated strength and power as he strode back to his sleeping mat which she noticed was further away from the company.

Hilary looked to Balin and asked "What happened to him? The Pale Orc I mean"

Thorin answered her bitterly "He slunk back into the hole whence he came. That filth died of his wounds long ago."

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Gandalf looking at her with worry. She met his eye and noticed that he was emotional, a single tear slide down his wrinkly cheek. He gave her a swift nod before turning away from her questioning gaze. "What's got him so emotional?" she thought to herself. She was about to get up and interrogate him but Thorin called out

"Get your rest everyone, we have a long journey a head of us and I do not need my men to be falling asleep if there is an Orc attack. Hilary sighed and lay back down on her mat. She still couldn't shake the images out of her head. In the late hours of the night she finally fell asleep.

"I am sorry my Lord, I lost her in the forest my lord. She used her freaky powers on me and the dog, we had to escape or else she would have blasted us into pieces" A slimy voice said. The owner of the voice was kneeling on the ground in front of a large, grey foot.

"My Lord we found her trail in a clearing over here" another voice called from the other side of the field. The pale footed creature kicked the side of the white beast he was riding and followed the voice over to the clearing. He could smell her; her scent was intoxicating; he hasn't had one in decades but he could never forget the taste, the power! Another scent filled his nostrils, dwarves. She was riding with a pack of dim-witted dwarves. This was going to be easy.

The creature turned to his followers who were waiting on instructions. He raised his sword and yelled "We ride east!"

A/N- Yay another chapter done and dusted. I hope you all had a Happy Christmas. I was playing the new resident evil game with my sister, it is amazing! Thank you all for the lovely feedback it really means a lot to me

What has Gandalf so emotional? O.o Thanks again love ya!