Bilbo Baggins could have sworn he could sleep anywhere but after having listened to Gloin snore next to his ear for just half an hour he could take no more. He stood and stretched looking around. Gandalf was awake talking to Balin and Fili and Kili who were on first watch sat together smoking their pipes quietly.
"Most everyone is asleep ill just give Myrtle her treat now" He thought as he moved towards the ponies. Pulling the apple out of his pocket he handed it to the pony.
"It's our little secret Myrtle. Shhh shhh you must tell no one" he said patting the pony affectionately.
He turned started by a high pitched cry that came from the darkness. Turning to Fili and Kili he asked "What was that?"
It was Kili who answered "Orcs"
"Orcs?" Bilbo almost shouted causing Thorin jerked into alertness waking Restania as well.
"Throat cutters there will be dozens of them out there the lowlands are crawling with them." Fili said
"They strike when everyone's asleep quick and quiet no screams just lots of blood" Kili added
Restania shook her head when she heard them start chuckling they were playing the hobbit for a fool.
"You think that's funny?" Thorin asked coldly standing up and looking down at his nephews in anger. "You think a night time raid by orcs is a joke?"
"We didn't mean anything by it" Kili said in a guilty voice.
"No you didn't, you know nothing of the world" Thorin said before stalking off to stand at the edge of the cliff, his back facing the company.
Restania had watched the exchange. She understood Thorin's anger for orcs were no joke on the best of days. Thorin's life had been turned upside down by those monstrous creatures she was surprised his nephews didn't know the story.
Balin stood and walked to the princes who had watched their uncles walk away. "Don't mind him ladies, Thorin has more reason than most to hate orcs."
Restania listened quietly as Balin recounted the tale of the battle that had claimed the lives of both Thorin's grandfather and father, and all at the hands of Azog the defiler. She hadn't realized how hard Thorin had fought for his people nor the ingenuity that he possessed, for how many she wondered would think to take up an oak branch as a shield.
She listened in surprise as he recounted how Thorin had chopped off Azog's arm and how he rallied his troops and fought back the scum that had taken Moria. She watched Thorin's back tense as Balin recalled how many had been lost and then watched it relax somewhat at Balin's saying "And I thought to myself then, There is one that I could follow there is one I could call king"
She stood and watched as one by one the dwarves stood as well. When Thorin turned she could see the pain and strife he tried to hide. He nodded to them then thanking them silently for their support of him.
"And the pale orc, what happened to him" Bilbo asked quietly. Restania would have shaken him had she been close enough could he not see how hard this subject already was for Thorin and how much it hurt him to have it spoken of.
"He slunk back into the hole wince he came. That filth died of his wounds long ago" Thorin responded as he headed back to where he and Restania had been sitting.
He was surprised to see her sitting next to Gandalf and whispering furiously. Curious as to what they were discussing he stood and headed over to them.
Restania had not missed the look that had passed between Balin and Gandalf. She understood the minute she saw their eyes meet that Azog was not dead at all. Making her way over to Gandalf she sat down.
"Ah Restania what can I do for you" Gandalf asked smiling
"You are keeping information from him. Information that could get him and any other member of this company killed you must tell him the truth" Restania responded angrily.
"He would not take it well I'm afraid" Gandalf replied more seriously
"That is not the point he has the right to know Gandalf".
"Who has the right to know what?" Restania heard from behind her.
She looked to Gandalf who shook his head at her. Huffing in anger she looked at Thorin. "Azog the defiler did not die from his wounds apparently."
She knew the minute it left her mouth she had made a mistake, for the look of anger and dare she say hatred on his face was enough to make her feel as though he had physically struck her.
"You know not of what you speak." He said grabbing her arm and shaking her.
"I do know and so does Gandalf though he wished to keep it from you" She yelped when Thorin's hand clamped tighter onto her arm.
Hearing the yelp he pushed her back roughly releasing her. "I do not take kindly to liars. I had come to trust you. That trust it seems was misguided." He spat at her storming to the other end of the encampment.
All eyes went between them. What had caused such a fight when merely an hour ago they had been cuddled together sleeping?
She looked at Gandalf and saw the pity he held for her as she cradled the arm that had been in his vice like grip.
"Here lass me see your arm" Surprised she jerked around to see Oin behind her.
She held her arm out slowly. He took it gently brushing over the bruise that was already beginning to form there and then pushing just a bit deeper earning a hiss from her.
"Nothing broken but it will be sore for quite some time I expect." Oin told her
"Thank you Master Dwarf I am grateful you looked at it." She replied he nodded to her then moved off back to his bedroll.
The exchange had not gone unnoticed by Thorin. He had watched out of his peripheral to see the exchange even in the low tones they talked in he could hear the hiss of pain that had escaped her lips as Oin looked her over and could not help the wave of guilt that crashed into him. He had not meant to hurt the woman.
He watched her speak to Gandalf before she glanced around. He followed her line of sight and realized that her pack was next to his own. She seemed to realize this too for she simply laid down on her side facing Gandalf and pulled her cloak around her using it as a blanket. It would seem that she preferred the cold hard ground to having to come near him again this night. He could not say he blamed her.