Chapter Two

Soon as Thorin struck his harp, the dwarves began joining in with their leader with the music. Merida sat, listened attentively in awe and amazement at the dwarves music. It reminded her a lot of her home, and sadness clouded over her, as she instantly thought of her mother, Elinor. Presently, Thorin started to sing, his deep rich baritone rising above the music, shortly joined in by the other dwarves:

Far over the misty mountains cold

To dungeons deep and caverns old

We must away, ere break of day

To find our long forgotten gold

The pines were roaring on the height

The winds were moaning in the night

The fire is red, it flaming spread

The trees like torches, blazed with light.

With a final sweep on the harp strings, the music and singing ended.

Tears streamed down Merida's face, and she turned away, praying that none of the dwarves see her weeping. Unfortunately one of them seen her, whom just so happened to be Thorin, whom was the only one now awake, besides herself. The rest of the dwarves went to bed already. "My lady, are you alright?" asked the dwarf. "Yes, I'm fine." said Merida, quickly wiping away her tears. "It doesn't sound like you're fine to me." said Thorin.

"I said I'M FINE!" snapped Merida hotly. "Woa, easy there, Merida, I didn't mean to offend." said Thorin, raising his hands. This young woman has a temper on her, remind me not to anger her no more, thought Thorin. Thorin sat beside her. "Alright, you want the truth, Thorin? I miss my mother. She disappeared from my home in thin air, and we could never find her. I don't know where she went to. And it had something to do with that stupid, stupid, witch I met awhile back." said Merida.

Thorin took Merida's hand. "Someday you will find your mother, Merida. Don't give up that hope. That is a lovely necklace, you are wearing." said Thorin, taking notice of Merida's necklace. "Oh, that. My mum gave it to me on my sixteenth birthday, as coming of age as a princess." said Merida. Thorin's eyes widened. "A princess? Did you just say you're a princess?!" exclaimed Thorin.

"Yes, Mister Smart Pants. That's what I just said!" snapped Merida. Thorin smiled. "You are quite a fiery thing, my lady. That's what I like about you." said Thorin. "I wish you stop calling me my lady. It makes me feel like a old woman. I have a name." said Merida. "Fine then, Merida. Excuse me. You're supposed to a princess, that's how they should be addressed." said Thorin. "How would you know that, Thorin? Have you been around royalty?" snapped Merida.

"Let me inform you, Merida, I have been around Royalty. My Grandfather, King Under the Mountain, ruled Erebor before Smaug's first attack, I am his grandson, direct heir to the Throne." said Thorin. Merida's eyes widened. "OH! I am so sorry, I didn't mean to offend!" cried out Merida standing up. Thorin laughed. "No, no. You didn't offend. You are fine, Merida." said Thorin. "You're not like other princes, but you remind me of someone I heard in a story once." said Merida, looking closely at the raven haired dwarf.

"However he wasn't a dwarf though. He was of the race of men." said Merida. "Who was he?" asked Thorin. "His name is Prince Mordu! You look exactly like him!" said Merida. "Tell me about this Prince Mordu." said Thorin. "This is a long tale, Thorin, if you're willing to stay awake long enough for it." said Merida.

"I'm willing to stay awake, Merida. I never sleep that much anyway." said Thorin. Merida smiled, and she began her tale. Thorin listened in amazement, and parts of the tale, she told him, reminded him a lot of his grandfather. When Merida finished, she looked at Thorin. "Merida." said Thorin softly.

"Yes, Thorin?"

"I wished I could've met you sooner."

"Why?"

"Because you are the most beautiful creature I ever laid eyes on. I only know you for a night, but it seems like I known you forever. Merida, I'm falling for you." said Thorin. Merida's eyes widened. "Thorin, you should backtrack your words a tad bit. We only met tonight. I'm getting tired! Good night, see you in the morning!" said Merida quickly, and she bolted away from Thorin. "Good night, Princess." said Thorin softly.

The next morning, Merida woke up early, and she made breakfast for the Company. "Wow, looks like our lady is making us breakfast! Thank yer lassie!" said Bofur. "Yer welcome, lad!" said Merida. Bofur grinned, and he took his seat at the dining room table.

Shortly the other dwarves approached the table. "What is this I hear you're a princess?" asked Fili. "Hey, how did you know that?" snapped Merida. "Thorin told us this morning. He said your mother is a queen." said Kili. "Yes, my mother is a queen." said Merida. "That's funny, yer don't look or dress like a princess." said Dwalin. "Mister Dwalin, I don't have to dress like a princess to be a princess." said Merida. "And Princesses aren't supposed to be carrying bows." continued Dwalin.

"Hey! Who died and left you boss? You're not my.." shouted Merida. Suddenly, Kili discovered Merida's bow sitting in the living room, and he picked it up. "Nice bow! Very well made!" said Kili. "HEY! Yer put down de bow! My father gave that to me!" shouted Merida, running over to the young dwarf snatching the bow away from him. "And I thought my father's friends were rude! You-you dwarven heathens are ten times worse than they are!" Merida ranted.

"What's going on in here, Merida?" asked Thorin. "Yer kin are being rude and actin' like a bunch of knuckle heads!" snapped Merida. "We was only kidding around with her!" protested Dwalin. "What did you say to her?" asked Thorin. "They said a princess shouldn't carry weapons. And Kili tried to steal my bow!" huffed Merida. "I wasn't stealing your bow, Princess! I was only looking at it!" argued Kili.

Balin stood up. "All of you ought to be ashamed of yourselves. She maybe a princess, but she carries her bow, and it was made for her. A princess, no matter of what race are trained to fight. You should show her some respect, especially you Kili, of all people! You were brought up much better than that!" lectured Balin. "Balin's right. Kili, Dwalin, if I hear one more remark of disrespect towards the princess, you will deal with me personally!" snapped Thorin.

"Yes, Thorin." said Kili and Dwalin together. "My apologies, Merida." said Dwalin, and he bowed to her. "My apologies, my lady!" said Kili, and he too bowed to her. "We must eat quickly, and we should get going." said Thorin. "What of the hobbit lad?" asked Merida. "I doubt that he's coming, Merida." said Balin with a shrug. "Oh, tis' a bloody shame he isn't. He's goina miss all the fun!" said Merida, and she went and began cleaning up from the breakfast.

"I like her. She's chirpy!" said Bofur, grinning. Thorin smiled. "She's not like anyone I've met before." said Thorin, as he stared at Merida. Once Merida finished cleaning up, she gathered her belongings and joined up with the dwarves at the Green Dragon. "I need a horse or a pony. But I don't have any money to get one." said Merida. "But you're a princess! How can you be broke?!" asked Dwalin.

"Dwalin! That will be enough! Merida, I will get you a horse or pony." said Thorin. "Preferably a horse." said Merida. "Young lady, you're not all that tall, you should go for a pony." said Dwalin. "I said a horse!" boomed Merida. "Dwalin, one more word out of you!" barked Thorin. Dwalin quickly fell silent. "Why are you always picking on the lass?" snarled Balin. Thorin shortly returned with a beautiful black horse. "Oh, he's lovely! Thank you, Thorin." said Merida, as she went to her horse.

"I shall name you Wildfire." said Merida softly, as gently caressing the horse. "Wildfire! Wow, what a lovely name!" said Kili. "Its better than some of the crummy names you got for your ponies! Bungo? Minty? Myrtle? What kind of names are those?!" said Merida. "What is wrong with those names? I don't see any wrong with it!" said Fili. Merida mounted her horse. "So when are we leaving?" asked Merida. Nobody answered her question however, as they waited. Suddenly, they could hear a voice calling out from the distance.

"Wait, wait! Don't go yet!" called out the voice. Everyone turned, and they could see Bilbo running with contract in hand. Bilbo handed the contract over to Balin, and the old dwarf looked it over.

"Well, it seems that everything is in place! Welcome to the Company of Thorin Oakenshield!" said Balin, smiling a the hobbit. "Give him a pony!" said Thorin, flatly. "Wait, wait! That wouldn't be necessary! I can walk as far as Frog mort..!" began Bilbo, when suddenly Fili and Kili lifted up the hobbit, placing him on an extra pony. And they begin their journey.

Elinor's POV:

I woke up finding myself in a forest in the middle of nowhere. I felt angry, and scared out of my mind. I knew I should have never trusted that witch. She gave us trouble before, and now she tricked me into leaving our home, and I'm out in the middle of no where, and not the slightest clue where I am at. Now that I'm on my own, I remembered some tips my daughter had given me to how to survive the wild. Although Merida had taught me to use weapons (especially the bow), I had no weapons to use.

And I have nothing to make a sling slot, so I'm stuck without anything to use to survive. As I continued, I could hear some howling in the distance. Oh for heaven's sakes! That's the last thing I need, to be hunted by wolves! My mind panicked. Suddenly several large wolf looking creatures leapt in front of me.

And on top of these oversized wolf beasts, sat very ugly humanoid creatures with the most ugliest faces I ever seen. "Looks like supper's on tonight!" hissed the first creature. "Oh god, who are you things?!" I cried out, backing away. "And she's unarmed. You cannot escape us now, human!" sneered the second creature. "Get away from me! Go away!" I screamed, and I bolted, finding myself chased by these creatures and their large wolves.

I kept running, screaming on top of my lungs calling for help. Suddenly as I ran, I could see a large black bear leaping out from the trees. No! It cannot be! He's dead! My mind reeled. But to my surprise, the bear attacked the creatures whom had been chasing me, and he killed them off. After that was done, a tall man returned. His hair was quite wild, and he was quite tall. "What is a human woman doing out in the wild alone?" asked the man.

"I'm lost. I have no idea where I am, I have no weapons on me, and I don't know what to do!" I said. "Come, you shall join me at my home where you will be safe." said the man. "My name is Elinor." I said introducing myself. "I am Beorn." said the man. "It is nice meeting you Beorn!" I said, and I followed Beorn to his home.