Chapter 18
"Breaking Loved Ones"
Needless to say, no one had run as hard as the group was now while trying to not get caught by the Orcs and follow Gandalf who was leading them northeast. Torshar picked up the rear, making sure no one got left behind to their enemies as she counted out the figures of the dwarves through the quickly passing tree trunks.
Before too much longer the group was fast approaching a walled off cottage with an open gate. Bombur, though he was the biggest around the waist, was running at his top speed and somehow passing everyone up only to crash face-first into the locked cottage door!
"Open the door! Quickly!" the wizard shouted as the rest of the entourage ran up. Kili and Fili quickly unlatched the lock and pulled everyone inside. Only when Torshar turned around to double check their numbers did she see that Thorin was standing his ground while an enormous black bear crashed through the bushes at the edge of the forest. The versifier, without much thought, ran back outside, grabbed the cursed king by the arms, and had to practically drag him towards the door. The prince stumbled over the threshold while Torshar served as a barrier between him and the attacking bear as it lashed out; ripping her hack open as it tore through her clothes.
A scream of pain ripped through her vocal chords as she fought off the beast, stumbled into the cottage, and fell in a heap on the floor while the dwarves quickly pushed the bear out by shoving the door closed. Tears streamed down her face while blood trailed down her back and stained what was left of her clothes. Oin and Fili were by her sides in a flash as they took hold of her arms and gently moved her over to a large bench.
"What is that?!" Ori wondered breathless.
"That is our host. His name is Beorn… And he's a skin-changer. Sometimes he's a huge black bear, sometimes he's a great strong man. The bear is unpredictable but the man can be reasoned with. However, he is not over fond of dwarves." The wizard stated, gaining weary glances from the travelers.
Torshar hissed in pain as Oin began to gently pull the strips of cloth away from her injuries that appeared to still be bleeding though not as quickly. Dwalin picked up Thorin and held him still as he addressed the minstrel, "What would you have me do with him, Torshar?"
"Tie him to a post for now… AAHH!" she cried when the healer applied a salve to prevent infection. The balding, tattoo headed dwarf obeyed as Gandalf stepped up to her side and chanted a small healing spell that sped up the healing process, though not by much.
Ori had stayed by the door, listening for anymore signs of aggression from the creature that attacked but could only hear its massive footsteps fading away, "He's leaving."
Dori quickly pulled him from the door, "Come away from there! It's not natural, none of it! It's obvious; he's under some dark spell!"
The wizard stood up and turned, "Don't be a fool. He's under no enchantment but his own. Alright, now get some sleep all of you. You'll be safe here tonight… I hope…" he whispered the last bit so as not to worry anyone.
Dwalin and Balin helped the tied up Thorin take off his coat but to do so they had to release him from the ropes around his wrists. Shortly after the ropes fell away, the cursed prince bolted towards the versifier who was in the process of sitting up from her slumped over position. His body collided with hers, knocking her to the floor with him kneeling on her chest; cutting off her air. As her face quickly began to turn blue, the rest of the dwarves swarmed and yanked the crazed man off, allowing the minstrel to cough and gain her breath once more.
"Find some shackles! I will not risk Torshar's safety anymore until Thorin's condition is cured!" Gandalf ordered the stooped by the fallen woman's side, gently scooping her up to help her breathe easier, "It is alright now, Torshar. Just take deep breaths." The wizard spoke calmly and watched Dwalin, Balin, Bombur, and Bifur remove Thorin's coat then obtained some shackles from a tool bench and chain him by his wrists and ankles.
When everything had calmed, Gandalf picked Torshar up and carried her to lie beside Dwalin's spot in the small haystacks, "Try to get some sleep, Lady Torshar. It had been a tiring day."
Before he could walk off to find his own spot, a hand reached out and gripped the edge of his robes, "Gandalf…" a strained voice called weakly.
The Istari member turned and locked gazes with Torshar, "Gandalf, do you think Beorn can save Thorin? Or offer us assistance?"
"I cannot say, my lady. But I am confident that we will be able to find common ground. Now, rest." He answered then gently tapped the center of the versifier's forehead; her grip immediately fell as did her eyelids.
Sunlight streamed in from the open windows, causing Torshar to wake from the dreamless sleep that the gray-haired old man put her in to calm her mind. Her back was sore to say the least but she got up anyway to find said old man rousing the others from their own slumbers. The wizard moved over to her, gently helped her up, and guided her to the group as her hearing picked up the sound of someone chopping wood.
As she came up and joined her kin, Nori spoke up, "Well, I say we should leg it. Slip out the back way."
"I'm not running from anyone, beast or no." Dwalin stated determined.
Finally the Grey One got in the middle of it, "There is no point in arguing. We cannot pass through the Wilderland without Beorn's help. We'll be hunted down before we ever get to the forest." Just then Bilbo stepped between Torshar and Kili, "Ah, Bilbo, there you are. Now this will require some delicate handling. We must tread very carefully. The last person to have startled him was torn to shreds. I will go first and – Uh Bilbo? You come with me."
The hobbit seemed a bit hesitant, "Is this a good idea?"
"Yes, how the rest of you, you just wait here and don't come out until I give the signal. And no sudden movements or loud noises, and don't overcrowd him. And only come out in pairs." Gandalf instructed then turned to go out but stopped then retreated, "no, actually, Bombur… Um, you count as two so you should come out alone. Remember, wait for the signal." And with that he and Bilbo walked out the door.
Bofur suddenly became confused, "What signal would that be?"
Torshar looked at him startled, "You didn't think to ask?!" the other dwarf smiled cheekily and shrugged making the versifier shake her head.
Systematically, the plan began to fall apart as the pairs of dwarves appeared outside when Bofur gave them the "signal", which was obviously just him guessing based on Gandalf's body language. Soon it was only Torshar as she heard their host ask, "How many more?!"
Gathering her courage, the Lady of Whurrak straightened her back though it screamed in protest, she stepped out with a blank expression and addressed the gigantic man, "Good to see you again, Beorn. It has been a long time." She then smiles slightly.
The corners of the skin-changer's mouth twitched to form a small smile, "Lady Torshar of Whurrak, traveling minstrel and storyteller…" the small smile quickly fades, "Is that it? Are there anymore?"
"Forgive me, Master Beorn, but I'm afraid that the final member of our entourage is in shackles that we borrowed from you. He is unwell…" Her gaze fell at the thought of him.
After thinking it over a moment the host sighed, "What are his symptoms?" he asked as he laid the ax against the chopping stump then began to step towards his cottage.
Like the Red Sea the dwarves parted and Beorn gestured for the lady to enter first then followed as she began to speak once more, "He is extremely aggressive… Towards me out of us all. I did find this on him though…" she pulled the pendant out of her pocket and handed it to the skin-changer.
The group gathered in the entryway as Beorn closely inspected the piece of dwarfish jewelry in his hand. His gaze turned up towards the chained dwarf prince. With powerful and meaningful strides, Beorn stepped up then took a knee to become level with the dark enchanted man, "What are your intentions involving Lady Torshar?"
"What is it to you?" Thorin countered as he picked up his head and glared past Beorn to lock gazes with the minstrel in question, "What does the wellbeing of a disrespectful, single-minded, bad mouthed whore… Have to do with you?"" the moment the words left his mouth, the skin-changer punched the prince in the jaw! Dwalin had to be physically restrained by Bombur, Gloin, and Bifur at seeing his oldest friend being assaulted. Torshar laid a gentle hand on his shoulder to calm him.
Gripping the dark tresses between his fingers, Beorn pulled Thorin's head up to look him in the eyes once more, "Speak ill of her again… And I will, personally, see to it that you will never walk or speak again. Now, tell me… What are your intentions?" And who gave you this?" the enormous man asked and held up the pendant.
"I do not remember…"
Torshar stepped forward, "I believe I know, Beorn… My uncle wants me dead. He's using my love for Thorin against me…" tears sprang to her eyes as she turned her back and returned to Gandalf's side.
After a few minutes of silence, Beorn released Thorin's hair, allowing his head to drop. He stood and made his way into the kitchen/dining room. Gathering the smallest bowl he could find, the skin-changer began to speak, "This is one of the worst blood curses I have seen in a long time."
Ori was the first to ask, "What is a blood curse?"
"It is one of the oldest forms of dark magic there is… Even the Istari have never encountered such craft since the beginning of Middle-Earth." Gandalf confesses.
"A blood curse can only be broken by spilling the target's blood on the object that contains said curse. It was fortunate that I attacked you, Lady Torshar. Although I do apologize… It was not my intention to cause you pain nor is it now…" Beorn stated as he had Torshar sit and lean forward as he unwrapped a couple of strips of bandage then used one his sharp nails to open a small portion of the wound. Not enough to kill the she-dwarf, but plenty to coat the bottom of the bowl as he held it beneath the stream of red.
The versifier cringed and clutched onto Ori and Bilbo's hands as the process continued for several minutes. Shortly after he replaced the bindings with fresh ones and handed her a cup of green tea. Gingerly, she sipped the soothing drink as she and the group watched their host take the pendant and dipped the silver in the bowl while speaking in an arcane tongue. Smoke began to emanate from the bowl and Thorin's pain stricken voice reached them as the spell seemed to be nearing its end. Balin laid a comforting hand on the poor woman's shoulder to stop her from going to the prince's side as the tears fell down her cheeks.
"Give it time. Thorin needs to sweat the rest of the aggression and hostility out. Once that is done, the curse will be lifted." The cottage master stated as he laid the chain over the side of the bowl, picked up the bowl, and walked over to where Thorin was chained between the two pillars that served as the opening of an animal stall. Placing it at his feet, the prince began to twist and pull to try and get away from the remnants of the curse as it dissolved.
"Thank you, Beorn… I do not know how to repay your kindness…" Torshar stated as she wiped her eyes and the skin-changer rejoined them at the table.
Smirking, Beorn suggested, "I could use some help with chopping wood and getting the horses fed…"
Torshar and Gandalf exchanged glances then he cleared his throat, "I'm sure the men will have no objections seeing as you have provided shelter and sustenance…"
This made Beorn smile as he gestured towards the door, "This way." He guided the twelve, reluctant, dwarves outside while Bilbo set to tidying up the dining room and kitchen. Gandalf helped Torshar down from the bench and escorted her to a guest room that their host had suggested to him that she use.
"Now, Torshar, you take it easy and rest for today. Oin, Beorn, and I will reassess you in the morning, as well as Thorin." The old wizard ordered gently, helping the versifier sit at the window.
"Do you think he'll be alright, Gandalf? I mean, will he have any memory of attacking me or any of that?" she asked solemnly as she gazed out the window, watching her friends tend to the jobs that Beorn had assigned.
Mithrandir sighed quietly, "I am unsure, Torshar. Let us hope that he does not… Now, rest…" and with that, he left the room; leaving Torshar alone with her feelings of guilt.