Chapter 5
Nightmares, Rain, and Trolls
Thorin's POV. I woke up before the rest of the company to find the little girl had moved from the spot by her mother, who was sleeping soundly to the best friend of the mother, who was sleeping next to Fili. I stood up and stretched. I suddenly heard tossing and turned.
"No. No. Let go of me." Mariah said. I hurried over to her. Anna was up and right next to me.
"She's having another nightmare." Anna said.
"Of what?" I ask. Anna shot me a glare and I knew it was something that Mariah didn't want me to know yet.
"Mariah. Wake up. It's just a dream." Anna called. The rest of the group was awake, except Stacia. Mariah sat up, sweating and I saw the tears in her eyes. She flung herself in the closest arms which were mine.
"Well that's a first." Anna whispered. I was surprised at first, but I wrap my arms around her and held her close.
"Get breakfast ready and get ready to move out." I order. Everyone got moving. I ran a hand through her hair.
"Sorry." Mariah mumbled.
"Its fine. Do you want to talk about it?" I ask.
"No." Mariah said, moving out of my arms and whipping her face. I let her go, wondering what she was dreaming about that left her in tears.
Mariah's POV. We were on the road again and I rode next to Thorin as it rained. Stacia was curled up in my cloak to stay dry. I head my hood up.
"We should stop soon." I suggest to Thorin.
"We will eventually." Thorin said. I nod.
"Mr. Gandalf, can't you do something about this deluge?" Dori asked.
"It is raining, Master Dwarf, 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." Gandalf said. I chuckle lightly.
"Are there any?" Bilbo asked.
"What?" Gandalf asked.
"Other wizards?" Bilbo asked.
"There are five of us. The greatest of our order is Saruman, the White. Then there are the two Blue wizards, you know, I've quite forgotten their names." Gandalf said.
"And who is the fifth?" Bilbo asked.
"Well, that would be Radagast, the Brown." Gandalf said.
"Is he a great Wizard or is he... more like you?" Bilbo asked. I chuckled and Gandalf looked offended.
"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 said. I felt Stacia snuggle deeper into me. I looked down to find her dozing off in the comforts of her shelter. I smiled.
"Someone is comfy." Thorin said, noticing.
"Of course." I said.
The rain finally stopped a few hours later and Stacia was wide awake when we came to a farmhouse that looked destroyed.
"Oh this part of the movie." Stacia mumbled only for me to hear. I shook my head. Fili and Anna was whispering together as Gandalf went to look at the house.
"We'll rest here for the night. Fili. Kili. Anna. You're in charge of the ponies." Thorin said, then followed Gandalf. Anna helped get Stacia off the horse and I got off. I heard Gandalf and Thorin arguing to leave or stay. Thorin won and Gandalf came storming past.
"Everything alright? Gandalf, where are you going?" Bilbo asked as we watch Gandalf go storming away.
"To seek the company of the only one around here who's got any sense." Gandalf said.
"Who would that be?" Anna called after the Wizard. I rolled my eyes at my best friend.
"Myself, Miss Walker. (AN: Anna's last name.) I've had enough of dwarves for one day." Gandalf said. I stormed to Thorin.
"Now you pissed him off." I growl.
"Leave me alone Mariah. Come on, Bombur, we're hungry." Thorin said, moving away from me. I shot him a death glare. I may have a crush on him, but he was one stubborn man.
That night. Anna was still with Fili and Kili. I grabbed two bowls. One for Stacia and I. I handed her the bowl as Bilbo stood talking to Bofur and then he left to hand food to Fili, Kili, and Anna..
Thorin's POV. I watched Mariah carefully as she sat with her daughter on a log, eating and talking silently. For a girl to raise a daughter without a mans help was amazing. She was strong and protective of the little one, who was as kind as her mother. I had feelings that were starting to boil up for the two that I never felt for the woman and cared for the girl. I shook my head.
'Come on Thorin. You can't be falling for the girl yet.' I thought, but I knew it was too late for that. I was thinking when Fili and Kili came running.
"Trolls. They got the ponies and Anna and Bilbo went to free them." Fili said. I saw Mariah stand up, anger and furry in her eyes as she grabbed for her sword bow and arrow and Fili and Kili flinch.
"You let them go by themselves and I thought you loved her Fili. You put her in danger." Mariah snapped.
"Sorry." Fili and Kili said, bowing their heads.
"Lets go." I said.
"Stacia. Stay here." Mariah said.
"But mom." Stacia said.
"Don't mom me. I want you safe." Mariah said. I knew that if I told her to stay that I would get a smack or something.
Mariah's POV. I was going to kill Throin's nephews for doing what they did. I won't let them forget this. We came and Kili came running out. One of the Trolls held Bilbo and Anna was getting backed into a corner by another.
"Drop him." Kili said.
"Anna!" Fili said, running to Anna and standing in front of her.
"You what?" Tom, the troll asked.
"I said, drop him." Kili says. Tom drops him and we all run out and attack the trolls. I shot an arrow and struck one right in the eye.
"OW. My eye." Bert said. He came at me and grabbed me. The other grabbed my arms.
"MARIAH!" Thorin yelled.
"Lay down your arms, or we'll rip hers off." Tom said. I bit my lip, looking at Thorin. He threw down his weapon and the others followed. We were all stuffed into bags. I was laying on Thorin. My head on his chest.
"You ok?" Thorin asked as a few others joined us. Kili laying on Thorin's legs and Fili was laying on mine. Anna and others were on a stick over the fire.
"I'm fine." I said.
"Why bother cooking them? Let's just sit on them and squash them into jelly." William said.
"They should be sautéed and grilled with a sprinkle of sage." Bert said.
"Ooh, that does sound good." William said. The dwarves started struggling and talking in fear. I stayed calm and so did Anna. I hoped Stacia was alright.
Stacia's POV. It was getting late and mom wasn't back with Thorin and the rest. I bit my lip and didn't want to defy her order.
"Stacia. Where's the others?" Gandalf asked, showing up.
"Trolls, Gandalf. They been gone for hours. Help." I said.
"Come." Gandalf said, pulling me with him. I hid in a tree close to the trolls when we reached. I saw mom in the sack next to Thorin and Anna on a stick with other dwarves over the fire. I bit my lip.
Mariah's POV. I notice movement in the trees and saw Stacia in a tree.
"Never mind the seasoning. We ain't got all night! Dawn ain't far away, so let's get a move on. I don't fancy being turned to stone." Tom said.
"Wait! You are making a terrible mistake." Bilbo said.
"You can't reason with them, they're half-wits!" Dori said.
"Half-wits? What does that make us?" Bofur said.
"Oh shut up." Anna said. Bilbo stands up and hops to face the trolls.
"I meant with the, uh, with the seasoning." Bilbo said.
"What about the seasoning?" Bert asked.
"Well have you smelt them? You're going to need something stronger than sage before you plate this lot up." Bilbo said. I heard a giggle from the trees and I shot my daughter a glare to shut up. I didn't want her getting caught. Thorin saw her.
"She should be in camp." Thorin hissed.
"She's fine as long as she stays quiet." I said, knowing Gandalf wasn't far away.
"I'll remember that. I'll remember that." Dwalin said, pointing at Bilbo.
"What do you know about cooking dwarf?" Tom asked.
"Shut up. Let the, uh, flurgaburahobbit talk." Bert said.
"Uh, the secret to cooking dwarf is, um..." Bilbo stopped to think.
"Yes? Come on, tell us the secret." Bert said. I rolled my eyes. Trolls are so stupid.
"Um, yes, I'm telling you, the secret is...To skin them first." Bilbo said. I heard the protests and I saw Anna roll her eyes and I was ready to slap sense into them all if my hands weren't in the sack.
"Tom, get me the filleting knife." Bert said as the dwarves threatened to kill Bilbo.
"What a load of rubbish! I've eaten plenty with their skins on. Scuff them, I say, boots and all." Tom said. I saw Gandalf slipping behind some trees nearby. Bilbo noticed it also.
"He's right! Nothing wrong with a bit of raw dwarf!" William said, picking up Bombur and holding him head first over his mouth.
"No. Not that one. He's infected." I cried out. The troll turned to me.
"What are you doing?" Thorin hissed.
"Wasting time like Bilbo is since you're not paying any attention." I shot back.
"You what?" Tom asked.
"He's got worm in his tubes." I said. Tom dropped Bombur and he landed on my stomach. I gasped for air as the dwarves shouted. I shot a glare at Thorin, who was looking at me.
"In fact they all have it, they're all infested with parasites. It's a terrible business. I wouldn't risk it, I really wouldn't." Bilbo said, catching on.
"Parasites, did they say parasites?" Oin said. I groaned and shot Thorin a glare to catch on.
"We don't have parasites! You have parasites!" Kili said. Thorin caught on and kicked Kili hard in the back. The group looked at Thorin and turned around.
"I've got parasites as big as my arm." Oin said.
"Mine are the biggest parasites, I've got huge parasites." Kili said. The others joined in. I sighed in relief.
"What would you have us do, then, let 'em all go?" Tom asked.
"Well." Bilbo said.
"You think I don't know what you're up to? This little ferret is taking us for fools." Tom said.
"Ferret?" Bilbo said.
"The dawn will take you all!" Gandalf said, appearing on top of a rock.
"Who's that?" Bert asked.
"No idea." Tom said.
"Can we eat him too?" William said. Gandalf raised his staff and split the rock in two. It wasn't long before the Trolls were turned to stone. I turned and Thorin and I smiled at each other as the other dwarves and Anna cheered.
"Oh get your foot out of my back." Dwalin said.
AN: And I leave you there. Next chapter will be a few exciting parts. Hope you liked.