Of Mountains and Woodlands Chapter 12
The others had set off whereupon Maya had stayed for a while longer, being called aside by none other than Bard. But Thorin, as Maya could see, had not done as he had said he would, instead of going forth and having her make her steady way after them meeting them further along, he had stopped just up the hill and would go no further. Bard however drew her sarcastic attention,
"Tis a long hike,"
"I've done longer as it happens. I got here,"
"So it would appear,"
"Are you implying that I speak a lie?" she narrowed her eyes up at him but he laughed carelessly,
"No, I imply nothing. Merely stating my surprise that any of you got this far,"
"Hmm," she looked away from him, losing interest in what the point of their meeting was. He was blunt and a little obnoxious, too obnoxious…not at all obnoxious? His obnoxiousity seemed to vary from day to day. He was confident and arrogant and somewhat humble at the same time. That was what bugged Maya; she didn't know what to make of the man: was he going to help them, throttle them in their sleep or just abandon them altogether. She did not like him.
"Hmm," he mimicked her and that was the last straw,
"Is that all you wished to say, Bard of Lake Town? I have not the time to dwindle, listening to your petty mockery. So, if you have words of sense, pray tell! If not; goodbye,"
She started marching away in a cold fashion; her brows furrowed having had enough of this arrogant fool.
"Ohp," He jogged up from behind her and stationed himself in front so that she could go no further, his hands raised in peace, "Wait, I apologise if I have offended you, My Lady,"
"Speak quickly, Bard of Lake Town,"
"Just Bard will suffice, My Lady,"
"Same question still applies however you wish your name to sound,"
"Fair point," he raised his chin, "You have been cold towards me,"
"And?"
"I would like to know why? I don't like to part as enemies,"
"We are not enemies…merely…detached acquaintances,"
"Same question still applies," he smirked. She scowled at him,
"You are arrogant-"
"Am I?" his eyes lit up with amusement,
"Let me finish. You are arrogant, you are a fool,"
"Hmm,"
"You are hungry for the gold Thorin can give you if you help us and therefore you are kind – not because you think he is the rightful king under the mountain which furthermore makes you untrustworthy. You lie,"
"That's a lie,"
"And you do not speak what is on your mind freely, instead you snigger and talk in small tones behind their backs,"
"A lie,"
"Then what is truth? I do not like you, Bard – because of just that. I speak the words and they taste like lies but you speak them and they feel like truth. What are you?"
"I am a man of the Lake, bound by law set down by the Master of Lake Town and he is the man you should be criticising as such for he is everything you have described where as I am…what, a fool? Maybe but a liar and man who plays false his promises? No. I will not take that. I do not mock you though I do find it amusing how a man – excuse me, dwarf – such as Oakenshield can be so naïve in the ways of redemption! He truly believes he can walk in and say, 'be gone, dragon!' and it shall simply fly away!"
"That's not true,"
"No? Then he certainly holds himself higher than any king in exile should,"
"This is coming from a commoner,"
"This is coming from a man who has lived with the fear of knowing what will happen should that monster be released from that mountain. We have lived in peace for so long and the dragon had not disturbed us nor us it and now, all of a sudden, a King with no army and no real means to support himself decides to take back his kingdom with 15 outcasts and with that, he brings a threat of war and devastation which cannot possibly be survived by our simple town. We are not soldiers but fisherman – I am the only true warrior amongst us. You see, I do not disagree with Thorin Oakenshield or his quest…it was his home, by all means take it back but do not think to take it while endangering lives of people who care nothing for lonely mountains and the gold that lies within it. I disagree with the way he chooses to go about it. Do you understand?"
"I do. What of the Town Master?"
"He is a coward, a liar etcetera but he seems to know how to run the town without running it into the ground. He has a good heart, but he likes the power he holds and should Erebor be taken back, his power will be reduced a little,"
"Thorin will not touch Lake Town,"
"Doesn't mean our great Master will lend his hand willingly,"
Maya paused, thinking everything through, her mind wrapping around the information she had just received,
"So, why say this now?"
"I feared you would think me a liar," he smirked again and dropped his serious mannerisms in a heartbeat.
"Maybe you are right, Bard," she cogitated before smiling, "Alright, I will talk to him…to them all, the fools that we are. But war is coming as you know. Will you fight alongside us until the end?"
"The Town Master has given you his word on our behalf,"
"Ah but you forget what you, yourself had said; is he not a liar? I want to know if you will."
"I can only offer this," he sighed, "My word as a man of the Lake, that when war is upon us, I will fight until I see fit. If the need arises that I and my town should run then I will not hesitate to make them do so. But until such a need arises, and let us hope it never does, then, Maya of the Wild Wood, I will fight until I can fight no more. Is it enough?"
She nodded, understanding finally dawning upon her. He was not sly and cunning but he was brutally honest, maybe not the most honourable warrior but his Town was kept close to his heart and he would do what was right by them and no others. She could ask no more than that and so tapped her temple and went on her way to join Thorin,
"Fair well, My Lady, until we meet again,"
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The day had worn on quickly with all her thinking and many times, Thorin had tried to talk to her but she would only respond with pursed lips and a little grunt in irritation from being disturbed. So he let her be and she thought on. What was she to say to these dwarves? Oh, by the way, I don't think we should kill the dragon. I think we should all go home and rethink our strategy…and drink tea. She cringed at the anticipated reaction, no, that would not do. Night came and she was still in deep thought, Maya barely realised how absent minded she was until she was distracted by the warmth of the fire, the taste of warm stew in her mouth and no reminiscence of how she got there. Bilbo had sat down beside her and Gandalf on the other while Thorin wolfed down his food at a monstrous rate.
"I think we might be making a mistake…" she mumbled into her stew, her appetite leaving her as she decided the brutal truth can be the only answer. She felt the eyes of Gandalf and Bilbo turn to her in bewilderment. Thorin just stopped eating and looked straight ahead. She could feel his body go rigid against her legs,
"Why do you think that?" his voice had gone cold too. She had every ounce of her confidence thrown into the knowledge that this was going to go down horribly. Gandalf had not said a word but his face too, had turned from her in thought. She prayed to all that was holy for him to say something strengthening…alas, he failed her.
"We haven't thought of Lake Town properly. Those people will not be able to defend themselves if and when the dragon rises from its lair. It will happen, you know. We'll have nowhere to go but down and where will we go? Lake Town,"
"Since when do you care about Lake Town?"
"Since this morning with Bard," before she knew it, the rigid weight on her legs had disappeared and he was up on his feet, glaring at her drawing the attention of the company. Ah, so it would indeed be a quarrel for the masses.
"And what did Bard have to say?" he growled at her from between his teeth. Maya sighed, trying to find the words,
"He told me what I have told you. I fear that I was wrong about him. He worries for his town and what fate may befall it when the worst happens; he does not agree with the way that we are going about doing this deed. And he's right, we don't have the means to fight this dragon alone…you had an entire army behind you when you fought him last and even then you were no match for him,"
"That's why we have our burglar," he hissed, glancing at Bilbo who flinched under his icy glower.
"It won't be enough,"
"So you think we should stop and rethink after having come so far because you have lost faith?"
Faith…had she lost faith?
"I think that we should rethink, my faith is the same as ever,"
"With what time – war will be upon us within days and you think we should stop and ponder our next move more accurately,"
"If we do that, war might go a little more smoothly,"
"There is nothing smooth about war. I have endured it many times to make comparisons – the only problem is that none can be made. No war was easier than another,"
"Well then think about the town,"
"They don't care for me, why should I care for them?"
"Because it will help everyone if someone decides to do the right thing,"
"THE RIGHT THING?!" He roared, his rage finally boiling over and Maya was sure she could feel her hair blow back from her face as he leaned into his words, "I HAVE BEEN TRYING - SO HARD FOR SO LONG AND NOW YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT WHAT I DO IS THE WRONG THING?!"
Gandalf rose from his thoughts then, his overbearing shadow silencing Thorin for only moment as he waited to hear what the wizard had to say,
"Perhaps we ought to talk about to talk about the alternative then," he raised his eyebrows at Maya and then at Thorin, "Before you raise your temper,"
"WHAT?!" Thorin yelled,
"Please be calm, Thorin," Maya tried to ease him with a little bit of manipulation – to act a little scared and helpless to win favour. But he was having none of it – fair enough, she would never do it again – she didn't even know why she tried it…probably because she was a little scared and helpless,
"YOU -" he shut his eyes and lowered his voice, more danger and raw anger could be displayed that way, "You have just thrown the biggest stone I have ever seen into the works of the efforts we have put in to get here and you tell me to be calm. Everything we have lies on the blunt edge of long buried knife and you tell me to be calm…no. No, you don't get that luxury. And you!"
He turned to Gandalf, his eyes blazing,
"You have been nothing but a wise annoyance and I am thoroughly finished with you. I am going to bed." He stormed away and when Balin tried to speak he waved him off aggressively.
"Well," Balin hobbled over to them while the others sat in dismayed silence, "What do you propose we do?"
So he wasn't happy with Maya either. She lowered her gaze, slightly ashamed, and shrugged,
"I'm sorry, Balin, I don't know,"
"Well, lass, I'm not sure that was your best move if you don't have an answer for it,"
"No…" she frowned and pursed her lips, "Maybe you're right,"
She collapsed her head into her hands, "Ah, for the love of Peace! I don't know! I. Do. Not. Know! I never have! I made a mistake with my people, with my father an in misjudging Bard just as I have made a mistake with disregarding all our efforts and plans without and alternative and what's more, Thorin's going to hate me in the morning! And now…he despises me now! Balin, Gandalf, I am lost – at the end of it all, I am lost."
She looked up at both of them for answers no one seemed to want to give. Gandalf looked at her down his long nose,
"Well, mistakes are meant to be made, for how else do we learn?"
"Well…I don't know what I've learnt other than the fact that so many mistakes without any just reasoning cause confusion," she gazed up at him questioningly but he shrugged a small knowing smile on his face.
"Sometimes, I make mistakes and then I sit and I think about it and I realise…that maybe the mistake could not be avoided, that there was no other alternative and that, ultimately, what had to be done, had to be done and yes, I lose some things: respect from others, respect for myself but in the end…in the bigger picture, everything just seems to make sense,"
Bilbo was talking with a solemn, glazed expression has if he was speaking in the time his revelation ran through his brain. Maya looked at him in wonder as did Gandalf and Balin. Bilbo finished his monologue, shrugged and cocked his head so matter-of-factly that Maya had to smile.
"I think what comes from ramblings such as that is that you can't stop was has already begun,"
"So let Lake Town burn,"
"Well, it's not burning yet. Maybe it won't – maybe Bard is more honourable than he leads us to believe. Perhaps with good reason, but for now…I have elves! It will be enough until such time when it isn't,"
Maya shrugged, it was a good point. So she was wrong…fine.
"I think you should talk to the King now. I don't think he's sleeping," Balin gave her a gentle push.
"Right…" she was hesitant, "So I'll take first watch,"
"If you'd like," Balin gazed at her hesitation in amusement, "Lass, he doesn't hate you but you can imagine how much effort he's been putting into getting us here safely. It's draining and then to be offered the possibility that what you're doing is wrong when you so adamantly believe it is right…it burns. I think he needs to hear you say that you were wrong,"
She got up then walked cautiously to his bed, a little way away from the company. Bard was just going to have to deal with the consiquences, just like the rest of them.
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Thorin was still fuming. His blood boiled in his veins and his heart was constricted in rage and his eyes could only see red, his breathing…he felt the dragon could be no match for him in those moments. He felt a soft step land just behind him and he was on his feet in a matter of seconds, his stance cool and defensive,
"What else is there that I have done wrong?"
"Nothing, there was never anything you did wrong, Thorin Oakenshield. In fact…it was I who was wrong."
"You?"
"Me," Maya took a step towards him as he narrowed his eyes at her, "I made a mistake…I did not think,"
"That's a first,"
"It is, isn't it," she dropped her gaze thoughtfully; "Anyway, I'm sorry. Bilbo opened my eyes, I was wrong to despair,"
"Bilbo?" Thorin's anger dissipated and instead, he was astonished. The Hobbit…
"Things never seem to make sense, do they? Ah well, I suppose it will with the bigger picture," she smiled at him and he would have smiled back but his astonishment could not be tamed. He continued to gaze at her in disbelief, his shoulders relaxing as he felt his rage simmer in his blood,
"I – am sorry I shouted,"
"Bloody ROARED at me," She raised her hands in suggestive claws and pretended to growl, "I was genuinely terrified…for only a moment. I deserved it,"
She waved it off and looked back into his eyes; he felt amusement rising in him as he looked upon her stance,
"I have that effect…"
"You have a sharp temper; I do not deny it,"
It was his turn to take a step towards her, meeting her half way, taking her hands in his and raising them to his lips,
"I was terrified you were right,"
She smiled,
"Thank Durin I wasn't, can you imagine the situation we'd be in if I was?"
"I had a fleeting idea only a moment ago," he smirked,
"…true," she frowned, "How are we going to bring down Smaug,"
"I have decided to put my faith in Bilbo," he smiled meekly, "He told me off as you remember,"
She let a light laugh escape her lips,
"I remember," she leant forward and gently brushed her lips over his and then planted a swift, soulful kiss on his cheek, "First watch, so lie down and sleep tight,"
"First watch," he snorted, "I will sit with you,"
"You need to sleep,"
"So do you,"
"You need it more,"
"Don't argue with me again,"
She stopped replying under his cool eyes as he sat down pulling her with him. She sank down submissively just in front of him where he wrapped his cloak around them both and held her tight. He still felt a little hurt so he sat with her bewteen in his knees in a bit of an undercover huff, for he liked having her there but he hated that she almost turned the tables on him. They sat in solitary silence with him huffing way in her ear (every now and then) until a stray thought crossed his mind: she admitted to being wrong and apolagised; it didn't actually matter anymore.
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Bilbo woke the next morning with a slight ache in his back and upon lifting his roll mat he found a lovely, sharp stone at which he scowled. His back was going to hurt for the rest of the day now. He was in the middle of getting his stuff together when Gandalf made his way to him with Thorin following close behind,
"Halfling," Thorin nodded,
"Good morning, Bilbo," Gandalf pulled on the tip of his hat.
"What do you mean? Do you wish me a good morning or do mean it is a good morning whether I want it or not? Or are you simply saying that you feel good this morning OR that simply this is a morning to be good on,"
Gandalf smiled and winked as Bilbo bowed in greeting, "How can I be of service?"
"Well, it appears our mountain is not as tall as this one here," he gestured to Thorin who frowned back, "initially thought. We have made it further in our one day than we thought we make in two,"
Gandalf put his hands on his hips and furrowed his brow, contemplating his next statement but Thorin spared him the challenge,
"The entrance to the mountain is just over the cliff face there, I remember where the steps are. But I want to go in the back way,"
Gandalf nodded,
"I think that would be wise,"
"Indeed," Thorin carried on, "We can go around, it will take us most of the morning but we will be their long before the day is done…" he trailed off as Bilbo's face went ashen, his eyes gleaming,
"You mean to take on Smaug today,"
"Yes, I do," Thorin's face was impassive and stern, daring Bilbo to challenge him. Gandalf's face had grown wary,
"Remember what I told you about courage, Bilbo Baggins,"
He nodded and glanced at Maya. She was gazing up the path to the mountains entrance, with her back to them.
"Good," Thorin marched away without another word leaving Gandalf to give an encouraging pat on Bilbo's back.
"Do not despair Bilbo, for I firmly believe that you are braver than you give yourself credit for. I'm fully aware of what you have done for Thorin already and let me tell you, the way he now speaks about your deeds and of you as a hobbit…he is deeply grateful,"
"Can he not just tell me that? I may feel better having him tell me that,"
"What, Thorin?" Gandalf glanced over his shoulder at the King, "Noooo. But I will be here by your side all the while, Mr Baggins,"
Bilbo raised his head, looking up at the mountain, his muscles constricting in anticipation. Bilbo was scared now, more scared as he had ever thought himself to be and as he gazed up an up and up, he thought he saw a puff of smoke rise from the mountains depths. He knew, deep within him, Bilbo knew, Smaug was awake and waiting for them to meet.
Alright, so I feel a little better about Bard but what will he do next? To the dragon's lair!