Chapter Two

Learning

Enda did not sleep peacefully. Her dreams played the details of her family's death. She knew it was more than a dream. She had experienced visions before which would reveal the past and future to her. Whatever she saw in the past was accurate but the future is something that is able to change although the main theme of a vision is rarely off. If anything the more you try to avoid something the more likely that it will be by your own doing.

Her mother had told her that she was different and to never tell others about the visions she had. Not many Dwarves ever had the Seers power but those who had it were often made outcasts because almost all Dwarves feared them. She wasn't even permitted to tell her father of her visions and her mother wouldn't listen so soon Enda suffered alone.

The power is not chosen by a person but rather it chooses them. Enda thought it unfair that she should have to see everything she did. Most of the time seeing the past brought pain, mental and surprisingly physical, and the future brought fear and doubt. She never would wish this upon anyone.

She woke up that morning seeing her brother's death in vivid detail. He had tried to defend himself with his cane from the attacking Orcs but soon a sword ran deep into his heart. He cried out in pain and fear before he fell. His young body collapsed to the ground and blood started to flow all around him.

Enda sat up. The scream was too real. She ran her hand through her messy hair and tried hard to think of something else but she couldn't shake the pain that losing her brother brought. A depressing loneliness settled over her. Harden yourself, Enda. No point in burdening yourself with troubles. She surprised herself at how much she thought like her father. She could hear those words from him before and she always did her best to make him proud. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath pushing her thoughts aside. What's past is done now she'd have to accept that and move on.

She then heard a knock at the door.

"Enda, you better get ready, and come down for breakfast," Gandalf said. "You have a long day of travel ahead of you."

"I'll be down in a minute!" Enda replied.

She then grabbed all of her gear that she had taken off and placed on the table the night before. She then put her jerkin on, tightened her sword belt and hip quiver around her waist, put her coat on and slung her second quiver on over her shoulder. She clasped her hair back into a ponytail and then slipped her boots on.

She then headed down into the main area of the inn where a few of the Dwarves were already sitting down for breakfast. She stood awkwardly watching them, unsure if she should sit with them or not. She then felt a pair of arms around her shoulders.

"Morning!" Fíli said from her left side. He looked wide awake.

"How did you sleep?" Kíli asked from her right. Unlike his brother, Enda could tell that Kíli was not a morning person.

"Alright," Enda lied but she didn't let it show.

"Good," Kíli smiled warmly at her although he didn't look completely convinced.

"Come, I'm starving!" Fíli said and they all walked to a table and sat down.

"That makes two of us," Enda said with her lopsided grin.

They all then started eating. She grabbed a cup of tea and then Enda filled her plate with bacon, rolls, and cheese. She was impressed at the amount of food there was at the table.

"You needn't look so shocked…" she heard Dwalin say. "You'd think that you have never seen food before."

"It's just that I've never seen so much food!"

"Never?" Fíli asked quirking his eyebrow.

"My father and I always brought the food to the table… and we never ate in excess..."

"Enjoy it while you can. During quests it's rare to ever see so much food," Dori said.

"How far is it until we get to the Shire?" Enda asked as they all continued eating.

"Three days by pony," Balin said.

"Pony? You own ponies?" Enda's eyes went childishly wide with wonder.

"Yes we do. And it's fortunate that we have a few spare ones…"

"I've never ridden a pony before…" Enda said.

"You've never ridden a pony?" Kíli looked completely shocked.

"Well, there's never really been a need…" Enda said quietly.

"Then you'll have to have an easy tempered one," Balin said. "You're going to have to learn as we go."

"Alright… This will be interesting…" Enda gave her lopsided smile.

"Alright we better head out," Gandalf said after he did a head count.

"Where's Thorin?" Fíli asked.

"He is in a meeting with the Dwarf leader who may offer you their help. But we have to head out. He will meet up with us at Master Baggins house."

After paying the innkeeper they then headed out.

Gandalf then lead the thirteen Dwarves out to the stable which was a little ways away from the inn. Each of the Dwarves picked their ponies and prepped them. Fíli and Kíli saddled a pony for Enda. They then all led the ponies out of the stable and down the streets to the front gate. Once they were out of the town they all mounted. Enda tried to follow their example but she had much difficulty.

When she got up she held onto the pony's reins and to the saddle. She then felt her pony start to walk forward. She didn't know how to stop it and she figured that since her pony was following the others it would be fine.

"She looks like a sack of potatoes," Kíli said with a smirk as he rode by her and the Fíli came up on the other side. Fíli and Kíli laughed.

"Terrible form… She definitely looks like she's new at this-"

"She doesn't need to be referred to as if she's not here…" Enda said with a hint of annoyance in her voice. She grinned cheerfully though "I told you that I've never ridden before…"

"Enda, June won't bolt. Sit up straighter," Fíli said. "There. Confidence is the key, ponies can sense your emotions and if you're panicked they will."

"Now use your knees to keep you up. Don't use too much pressure but enough to keep you up," Kíli said. Then for the next few hours the two brothers helped Enda learn to properly ride a pony without falling as it walked and how to get it to stop and to go.

"Now let's practice a trot," Fíli said.

Enda bit her lip. She was comfortable at the moment in learning how not to look like a sack of potatoes. "Is it necessary?"

"Of course it is!" Kíli said and then he smirked. "Unless you're scared…"

"Never!" Enda said indignantly.

So the rest of the day they taught her how to trot and even get into a full gallop and canter without falling. She was far from professional but at least she wasn't falling off. The brothers were constantly giving her pointers and encouragement.

Then things went a little sour when they decided to teach her to jump.

There was a nice log that would serve well as a hurdle so they each jumped it an encouraged Enda to try it as well. Hesitation was clearly seen but she didn't want to be cowardly so she got her pony to run towards the log. The mare jumped gracefully but Enda fell off while clearing the log. Worse yet, her left foot was caught in the stirrup and she was being dragged behind the pony who still felt like running. She was able to free her foot and she tumbled to a stop while her pony still trotted away.

"Enda!" Kíli shouted. He jumped from his horse and knelt next to Enda while Fíli then rode after her pony and stopped it.

"I'm alright... I'm fine..." Enda said breathlessly. She sat up and shook her head. A grin then spread over her face. "I almost made the jump..."

"Are you sure you're alright?" Gandalf asked.

"I might be a little bruised, but I'm mostly just winded. It could have been worse," Enda said. She then stood up with Kíli's help. "Needless to say I won't try jumping again today..." She then grinned her lopsided grin.

"What ever possessed you to try and teach such an unseasoned rider to jump?" Dori said scolding the youngest brothers. Both of the boys hung their heads in shame. "She could have been hurt badly."

"Oh don't worry about it, I wasn't hurt." Enda felt uncomfortable as all the Dwarves and the Wizard watched her. "Let's head out..." Fíli and Kíli helped her get atop of her pony, June, before mounting their own. They all then rode out. Fíli and Kíli rode right by her.

"We're sorry," Kíli said, his hazel eyes met Enda's.

"Don't be... You must have great faith in my abilities to believe that I can already do jumps after only riding a pony for the first time."

"You're handling this a lot better that I would have thought..." Fíli said. His blue eyes seemed to be studying her, looking for the smallest flash of anger.

"How else should I be reacting? Stewing over something that isn't anyone's fault is just a waste of time," Enda said honestly. Enda was liking the brothers more and more. They reminded her of Dín. They were both youthful and mischievous but they were caring and kind.

They stopped for the day before the sun set and the tasks were soon done or underway. Enda volunteered to collect firewood and soon finished her task. She had nothing else to do so she leaned back against a fallen log. She then noticed Ori writing in a journal. Curiosity rose in her and she went and sat by the young Dwarf.

"What are you writing?" she asked.

"I've wanted to write down all that happens during the quest so I've began a journal. There isn't much but you're free to read what I have so far," Ori said with a polite smile.

Enda hesitated for a moment and didn't grab the journal that Ori was offering her. She then looked down.

"I'd love to… It's just- I can't… read…" Enda said. She then bit the inside of her cheek waiting to be laughed at.

"You never learned to read?" Ori asked. He sounded really sad at that, almost as if it was the worst thing imaginable.

"I've never really tried to read. I never was taught and I never really thought there would be much need for me to learn to read or write."

"Well it's very important. Reading helps you learn about many different things and when you can read and write you will be more empowered…"

"How so?" Enda asked. She was now very curious. Her head was cocked as she listened to Ori.

"Well you've traded before?" Enda nodded. "When you can read about the current prices you can't be fooled into overpaying. Reading books on history and science will empower you with knowledge and writing will help you plot down ideas."

"Can you teach me to read and write?" Enda asked Ori.

"Of course! I have an extra journal you may use." Ori then handed her a small book full of blank paper. Then until the sun went down Ori started to teach Enda the runes and the basics to reading. He had her write down the runes on the front page and continued from there.

Enda then thanked Ori and let him continue with his journaling. She then joined the other for supper and then they split into watches. Enda was paired with Fíli and Kíli for the shift that was in the middle of the night. The youngest Dwarves were always put with the worst shifts.

When the time came Enda then joined with Fíli and Kíli who were standing, looking into the night. She decided since they didn't know of her presence yet, that she'd startle them. She quietly walked up and poked them both on the back of the neck. Both of them turned around and glared at Enda. They had tried to look normal but in their eyes it was obvious that they had been startled.

"I must be very stealthy for you not to notice me," Enda said with a smirk. "It's a good thing that you aren't ones to shriek or automatically attack."

"Yeah," Fíli said. He gave a smirk as well. He liked Enda, she was mischievous and it reminded him of him and his brother.

"You are pesky," Kíli said. He smiled though. He could have an ally to help pester his brother.

"Yep." Enda beamed proudly. "I'm glad you agree."

They were all quiet awhile as they watched the surrounding area for any trouble. When they eventually got comfortable with the fact that they were safe they all sat by the fire, warming their cold hands.

"Where are you from?" Enda asked suddenly.

"We are from the Blue Mountains," Fíli said.

"Blue Mountains? Where is that and what's it like?"

"We lived in a small colony of the Dwarves that had left Erebor. It was closer to the northern edge of the mountains. It wasn't much of a home because we were the outsiders. All of the Dwarves who were originally from there looked down upon us because we had lost our true home. But not all was bad there…" Kíli said.

"What of Mirkwood?"

"I've explored almost every inch of it. I've never been in Elven areas though. Not a hospitable group to Dwarves…" Enda's nose wrinkled in disgust but then a look of pride crossed her face. "I bet it's because my father outshot the little princeling."

"Your father did what?" Kíli asked.

"My father went to an archery tournament when I was only a little Dwarfling. He went into the competition and the Elves were surprised that he'd compete. It got down to the final two. It was my father and the Elf prince. The prince shot and hit in the center of the target. The Elves were ready to crown him champion but my father shot his arrow. The prince's arrow was split in two, my father's arrow slammed into the back of the target proving to be the better shot."

"I've never heard of a Dwarf that could outshoot an Elf… He must have been a skilled archer."

"The best!" Enda beamed. "I've always wondered how I compare to anyone else. My father always outshot me."

"Tomorrow we should compete!" Kíli said.

"I like that idea."

"I also noticed that you are skilled with a blade," Fíli said.

"Apparently not skilled enough… I almost got killed by Orcs and then when I fought your uncle." Enda then looked down. She felt so weak for failing to keep her honor for her family.

They were all quiet for a little while.

"What is that glove you wear on your right hand Kíli? It only covers two fingers and the thumb…"

"It's an archer glove… It's to keep your fingers from blistering on the bowstring."

"Ah… I've never seen one before…"

"Why do you only wear one glove? And why is it fingerless?" Fíli asked.

"It's just for grip… It was one of father's but the left glove went missing a long time ago…"

"You also carry two bows…"

"The plain one is my own… My father made it for me when I became the main provider. The one with the silver accents was his. It was made specifically for war."

"Can I see it?" Kíli asked. Enda nodded and handed Kíli the bow. "I've never seen such a well-made bow. It's made of the strongest wood. I don't think it will ever break." Kíli then pulled the string back. "It has quite a strong pull. I can't imagine the damage it could do."

"It was made by my great-great grandfather and it's been in the family ever since. That's why I saved it. Notice the markings on the silver? Everyone has carved their letter in it."

"Except for you… Why haven't you?" Kíli asked.

"Well because I don't know my letter yet. Ori is teaching me to read and write. But even if I could I'm not sure if I could mark it yet…" Enda looked into the night.

"Why?"

"Because. Only the owners mark it… To put my name upon it would mean I've inherited it which means that have to accept the fact that I am alone-" Enda instantly closed her mouth. She felt that she had spoken too much. She looked down and bit her inner cheek.

"You're not alone, Enda…" Fíli said.

"I'm among strangers and I don't know where I belong… Everything has changed and now I hardly know who I am anymore!" Enda closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Harden yourself, Enda. You are being weak.

"Enda you have us… We probably aren't much but we are here for you…" Kíli said.

They were all quiet for a while then it came time to wake the next watch. Enda quickly crawled into her bedroll and closed her eyes pretending to sleep but she listened to Fíli and Kíli's whispers. She felt someone place a cloak over her body and she suspected that it was Kíli.

"You like her don't you?" Fíli's asked. "You've taken quite an interest in her..."

"What? I'm just being nice. You really shouldn't read anything into it…"

"Oh, so my little brother has finally gone soft."

"You don't know what you're talking about. I haven't gone soft."

"Yeah right…" Fíli then coughed the word 'softy'.

"Shut your mouth before I shut it for you," Kíli said. He was getting very annoyed with his brother and being sleepy didn't help his temperament.

"Well I guess not too soft yet. But you're being very caring recently."

"Well certainly not towards you. You're being insufferable."

"Well I learned from you." Fíli poked his brother. "Come on. Your mind is on Enda, you love her." Fíli smiled widely.

"How could I love someone I barely know? Besides when did you become an expert on my feelings? Just because your engaged doesn't mean that you can sense love…"

"I know you better than anyone else Kíli, I know all of your emotions and this is something new. I also see something in your eyes. Logically it must be because of-"

"Oh shut it!" Kíli smacked his brother. "I don't need your opinions. They're only that, no facts or anything useful."

"It's alright if you like her. I think it would be nice to see you-"

"I'm not discussing this. Goodnight."

"She's a fiery one, a lot like yo-"

"I said good night."

"You know that you can trust me…" All of the joking tone had faded from Fíli's voice.

"Yeah, I know. But it's something you can't really understand."

"She's from your visions, isn't she?" Kíli only nodded. "She has a great destiny, doesn't she?"

"I'm not sure. I just know she's honest and good. Can I go to sleep now?" Kíli lay down and looked into the sky.

"Goodnight," Fíli said.

"Night…" Kíli muttered.

Enda was confused. What did was meant by love? Romantic love was a foreign concept to Enda. She understood love only as something shared between siblings. She loved her brother and that same love would have brought her to sacrifice herself to ensure his safety. Her thoughts left her feeling empty. She was very protective of Dín and she always thought that she would die to protect him. If that was what Fíli was talking about she thought it would be nice to be adopted among her own kind. But she did not want any of them to sacrifice their life for her.

Then her mind wrapped around something Fíli said. Visions. Did Kíli have visions? Was he like her? Hiding behind a smile although deep down he sees terrible things that cause pain and doubt. Enda quickly put those away. He couldn't be like her. It still lingered in the back of her mind though.

Exhaustion then pulled her into sleep. And sleep brought her visions.

She saw her family, living their last moments. Her father, weak and old, tried to fight and defend his family but he soon fell. Her mother took up his sword but she was never a warrior. Her little brother, leaning heavily on the doorway, tried to use his crutch to fend off the attackers. He screamed in pain as a sword ran through his heart.

Enda woke with a start. Pain flooded her own heart. Even though it was a dream, it felt real enough. Enda was unable to stop the tears that started to flow down her face. She was glad that no one was up to witness her crying and the guards were busy keeping watch. She was safe from Orcs but she would rather face those than her dreams.

"Are you alright?" she heard Kíli murmur. He looked over to her.

"Yes, I'm fine." Enda quickly wiped her face with her sleeve.

"You're lying." Kíli then propped himself up on his elbow. "It was a nightmare, wasn't it?"

"I'm fine," Enda repeated. Kíli shook his head.

"No, you're not-"

"Who are you to tell me what I am and am not?" Enda then turned her back to Kíli. "I said that I'm fine so goodnight."

"It's normal to be upset-"

"Listen I don't want to talk. Goodnight," she practically growled.

"You just lost-"

"I know what I lost!" Enda said a bit loudly but she then lowered her voice. "I don't need to be reminded, got it?" Enda was glad her back was turned to him because tears were starting to fill her eyes again. Kíli didn't like her being all snappy but he realized that was how he was with Fíli.

"I'm here for you…"

"And what good is that? You don't know what it's like. You couldn't… Every time I close my eyes I can see it. I can see them dying and I'm unable to help them…" Enda trailed off. "Just give me space. I don't want to talk about it."

"Alright just… know that I… care."

Enda felt more tears come to her eyes. Only her brother had ever really cared about her. He was almost more a parent to her than her own. Pain filled her, she had failed little Dín. She felt that Kíli's words were too good to be true. She wasn't worth being cared about, especially by a stranger but still Enda felt bad for snapping at him.

"I'm sorry..."

"I know," Kíli said. He knew words of anger are never from the heart.

Hey everyone,

Sorry I didn't post sooner. I had some difficulty writing this chapter. I wanted to start showing friendships being formed but also the pain that Enda is feeling over her losses. I also wanted to show that she is oblivious to romantic feelings mostly because she's never experienced it because of the solitude that she lived with while in Mirkwood. Fíli and Kíli I wanted to show them being youthful but at the same time have them be wanting to help Enda because they can see that she's hiding her pain behind a grin.

Oh yes I've always been wanting to add a Seer in my stories and now it looks like there may be two of them. I just thought it would be interesting to add a little more power although Seers don't know everything nor are visions 100% reliable like I explained. I just think Seers have more an emotional depth because they are more sensitive to things... I just wanted to try it and get some feedback from you.

Tell me how I did! I really want to know what you like and tell me if there's anything you don't.

PLEASE review. (I really like reviews they motivate me to keep writing :D)

Thanks to all of you wonderful followers and reviewers!

~ Maethorni