Chapter 5

I flew over the forest for three days before I spotted eagles flying ahead of me. They weren't ordinary eagles, they were the Great Eagles, large enough to carry people and with talons that could gut horses. As I focused, I spotted the dwarves on their backs and my heart beat faster. One of them was carrying Thorin, who looked wounded, and didn't appear to be moving. I caught up to them, and flew beside the eagle that carried Thorin to get a look at him. There was blood on his face, and he was not moving at all. His eyes were closed, and I could see blood matting part of his coat where something large had attacked him.

Clicking my beak together, I backed off and flew over them as they circled a large rock formation known as the Carrock, and the eagle set Thorin down. I could have winced at how he lay there, seemingly void of life. Gandalf's eagle landed and he quickly jumped off to hurry up to the dwarf. I swooped down and landed.

"Thorin!" he cried as I turned human.

Gandalf hurried forward and knelt beside the unconscious dwarf. The wizard glanced at me, his expression softening slightly. It was a quick look, and I almost missed it. He moved a hand over his face, and whispered something that had Thorin breathing in quietly and his eyes fluttered open as the others gathered around.

"The Halfling?" Thorin asked as I hurried to move back out of his sight.

"It's all right, Bilbo is here," Gandalf replied gently. "And quite safe."

Thorin struggled to his feet, letting Dwalin and Kili help him up so that he could see the hobbit who stood before them all with a relieved expression on his face. The dwarf almost shook his friends off, but instead moved to yank his coat back up onto his shoulders.

"You," Thorin said coldly. "What were you doing?"

Bilbo looked at him in shock for a moment. "Well..."

"You almost got yourself killed," Thorin continued on. "Did I not say that you would be a burden? That you would not survive in the wild. That you had no place among us?"

Everyone fell quiet, and Gandalf sucked in a big breath when Bilbo looked down, obviously hurt by the worlds Thorin had spoken.

"I have never been so wrong," he said suddenly and hugged him. "In all my life."

I smiled slightly when I saw the shock on Bilbo's face, before it slowly turned to a smile and he hugged the dwarf king back. The company relaxed instantly and clapped and cheered. Finally, their leader had accepted the hobbit as one of them. Thorin gave him a tight squeeze before he backed up, his back to us while Bilbo smiled slightly at him.

"I'm sorry I doubted you," Thorin said quietly.

"No...No," Bilbo shook his head. "I would have doubted me too. I'm not a hero...not even a burglar."

I listened to them chuckle a little bit, when Thorin looked ahead of them, and I knew what they saw. In the distance, The Lonely Mountain stood tall. It stood out over everything.

"The Lonely Mountain...last of the seven dwarf kingdoms of Middle Earth," Gandalf smiled quietly.

"Our home," Thorin breathed which had me backing up but Dwalin grabbed my arm firmly.

"Let go, Dwalin," I hissed under my breath.

"Not a chance," he hissed back. "Why were you following us?"

"I want to help," I said quietly making him let go to look at me.

"We could certainly use it," he rumbled gently and then looked up. "I know I'd like having you with us."

"Well...I guess we'll see how that goes," I said quietly.

"Thorin," Dwalin said suddenly, raising his voice and I inwardly groaned.

They had all known I was there, but Thorin himself, and I wasn't sure how he was going to react to me following them. Thorin turned, and I winced at the blood that was on his face from what ever battle they had been in.

"Arina," he said in surprise and I sighed.

He walked over to me, and the others moved aside so that he could approach. Shifting my feet slightly, I tried to hide that I was uneasy when he got close enough. He was okay, and all I wanted to do was reach out and hug him. Lifting my gaze to look at his face, I took in the fact that the smile that had been there was now gone.

"Why did you follow us?" Thorin asked quietly, his expression giving nothing away.

"I want to help you," I said, my voice strong in that. "I want to help you take back Erebor and anything else that comes your way."

Thorin looked at me, and I saw several emotions play across his face at my words. Just as fast as I had seen them, they were gone and he was staring at me with a blank expression. I put my hands behind my back as he regarded me and I noticed Fili and Kili fidget from where they stood.

"That's if you'll have me," I added quietly.

Even if he didn't want me around, I was going to follow them anyway. The vision Lord Elrond had allowed me to see was not going to come to pass, not if I had a say in it. Thorin stared at me for a little longer, and I forced myself not to squirm under his intense gaze.

"We had a long way to go," he said shortly glancing at the others. "Let's get moving."

Relaxing a little, I nodded as the others began to head down the steps of the Carrock that led into the forest below. The moment our feet hit the forest floor, they had set a running pace into the mountainous region that led to Erebor. We had a long way to go, so I transformed into a wolf and ran with them through the trees. Through out the day we kept moving, before Gloin and Ori pointed out a good place to rest for the night. They couldn't keep running, and from the way Gandalf relaxed slightly told them they were okay to stop.

"Get a fire going," Thorin sighed as everyone gratefully set their things down. "Bombur start dinner."

I laid down out of the way and watched as they got a fire going and began to scout around for things to throw in a pot over the fire. Sighing, I rose up to my feet and trotted off into the woods to go catch a rabbit or something for them. It was easy to find a rabbit, and I killed it quickly before heading back proudly. Coming through the bushes, I walked up to Bombur who was cooking with Bofur, and dropped the dead animal at his feet.

"Oh, thank you Arina!" Bombur smiled.

Wagging my tail gently, I walked off as they got started on cooking and I tested the air and listened when I got somewhere quiet. Nothing stirred in the night that I didn't recognize. We were safe for now.

"Anything?" Thorin asked, coming over to join my side, his thick fur coat closed tightly to keep him warm.

I turned human by the time he reached me, and I pulled my hair out of my face. My clothes were warm against my skin, which helped against the chilly night air. The days were still warm, but the nights were beginning to get colder. It was a sign that we were getting closer to autumn.

"We are okay," I replied, looking out through the trees. "I can only hear the sounds of animals. There is no scent of Orc on the wind, which is what I'm guessing you are running from."

"Yes," Thorin nodded. "Azog is still alive. He ambushed us right outside the Goblin Kingdom last night..."

I paused for a long moment in silence when his words hit me. "Azog..."

"Yes," he rumbled lowly crossing his arms.

"I thought..."

"Clearly we both thought wrong," Thorin muttered.

I pursed my lips, and then decided to change the subject. "Hmm...Azog...Goblin tunnels. I think I'm glad I missed all the fun."

He smiled, a small lift of his lips. "I guess it is good you waited. So tell me, where have you been? You never really went into detail."

Sighing, I crossed my arms. "Well, I stayed in Rivendell for a while under Lord Elrond's protection and even hid in Lorien for a while. I stayed in the world of men, and hid my powers. I was told to disappear."

"So you did," he replied matter of fact.

"The...the last day I saw you...was the day it all started. The last of my kind had been taken and it was shown to me what would happen if I didn't hide. I couldn't..." I trailed off, looking at my feet for a few seconds, I turned back to look at Thorin.

"You should have come back to the Blue Mountains anyway," Thorin replied shortly.

"We've had this argument many times," I murmured. "It wasn't going to happen...it didn't...I would have brought war right to your mountain."

"You seem to be the only one bothered about the fighting," he arched his brow.

"I am the only one who thought it through," I muttered sharply. "Like I said...you finally had peace. I wasn't going to destroy that. Don't lecture me again."

Thorin smirked a little and turned when Bofur came over with two bowls of soup for us. I almost protested, wanting to make sure that everyone had their own fill when Bofur gave me a look.

"Oh come on, you caught the rabbit," he ushered and shoved the bowl into my hands.

I couldn't help the smile that crossed my lips as I turned back to eat while keeping watch for them. Thorin left me to go speak to Balin, so I was able to get myself together. I wasn't alone long before the hobbit that was with them came over to me. I knew he was nervous, but his curiosity won to come meet me.

"Hi," he said, standing next to me. "I'm Bilbo."

"From what I hear, the burglar?" I asked with a smile. "I'm Arina."

He laughed, and fiddled with his fingers. "Anything but that," he said quietly.

"I think you'd be quite surprised," I answered. "There seems to be much to you, which even you cannot see."

"Well, can you give me a hint?" he laughed softly. "Cause I need one."

"The love you carry for this company," I said quietly. "It is more help than you can see. It brings them together more than ever before. Thorin has even softened. I saw that on the Carrock."

"He was extremely intimidating. Still is," Bilbo confessed hanging his head. "I thought he'd never accept me being a part of this."

"I think you proved him wrong," I nodded. "Sometimes...many do. He has a hard time seeing the good in new things. The fact that he is a dwarf just adds to that." I tilted my head a little. "They are stubborn, rude things. They have no sense of privacy or politeness," I said a little louder, making Bilbo look up at me in confusion.

"Hey!" Fili exclaimed as I turned to see him and Kili hiding behind a tree.

"That's what you get for eavesdropping," I said, giving them my best unimpressed look.

"At least it wasn't Thorin," Kili smiled as Thorin looked over hearing his name. "Your Uncle is too much of a King to be caught eavesdropping," I replied pointedly. "Then again I'm sure I could be wrong."

"I did no such thing," Thorin said darkly as he glared across the fire as he tended to the blood on his face. "The fact that I'm a dwarf adds to nothing."

I smiled widely, the expression only hurting my cheeks so I turned back to Bilbo who laughed a little as well. "See what I mean?" I asked. "Not a polite bone in their body. Unless it's Balin."

"Don't make me think about throwing you from this quest, Arina," Thorin stated firmly but I threw him another smile. "Or off these rocks."

"Come on, with only Fili and Kili making all the fun what's one more to add to it?" I asked. "And anyway, I don't think you properly invited me along, so I'm staying."

He groaned in irritation and we all fell silent when a howl split through the air. I moved forward, and ushered Bilbo back to the company to listen as several more broke out. "Only wolves," I said softly as I listened to their song.

"We'll be safe for the night. They are keeping watch."

"How do you know?" Ori asked quietly.

"I can understand them to an extent. I spent much time around wolves," I replied.

I watched over them as everyone bedded down for the night. Thorin lay with his back against a large rock formation on his side, his arms crossed and close to his weapons. He was always ready for anything. I turned away from them so that I could keep watch.

"Arina, you should sleep," Fili whispered as he came up next to me. "Dwalin and I have the first watch, it's okay. Go annoy my Uncle."

I chuckled a little and then pushed a transformation back into a wolf. It took a moment for me to do, but I shook my coat out once it was finished and I quietly walked around the fire to go where Thorin lay. I went to stick my cold nose against his neck when he caught my muzzle.

"Don't even think about it," he rumbled quietly as my tail wagged furiously.

Giving him a look when he opened his eyes that told him he was no fun, I yanked my muzzle from his grasp. He looked up at me and then rolled his eyes and nodded, so I laid down against his side and helped to keep him warm. He had given his blankets to the others for the night, more concerned about them than himself.

"You haven't changed much," he muttered, making me bare my teeth in a smile.

I stretched out, and leaned my head against his crossed arms. It was easy to be close to him in this form. I was unable to talk and he couldn't read my expressions well enough to see how I was feeling. Thorin didn't say anything, but I did feel him relax slightly as my body warmed against his. I amused myself by thinking of what I'd turn into next time to annoy him. He surprised me suddenly when he lifted one of his arms, and wrapped it around my neck, burying it against my thick fur. I wagged my tail once more before I fell asleep.

Memory

I had been so wrong not to take his arm when he had offered it. When he had opened the door to lead me from the room, I felt my legs tremble for a moment. Thorin turned to look at me, and his expression softened slightly. I glanced up at him when he turned my way, and I blinked a little, almost ashamed of how weak I was.

"It is not a bad thing to ask for help," he said lowly. "I don't know...what you went through. But after what I saw last night and today, I can tell you are still weak."

"I don't want to remember it," I whispered and watched him silently offer his arm.

After a hesitation, I reached out and took it. He drew me to him gently, and then led me from the room at an easy pace. His hand came up and patted mine as I looked through the halls. This place was unlike any city I had ever seen, and was also my first dwarven city. The stone work that was carved through the halls could be rivaled by no one else. Dwarves sure knew how to build things and make them one of a kind.

"I'm sure after we get some food in you, you'll feel much better," he said. "I don't know much about shifters...but I assume feeding you will help you recover faster."

"It will," I nodded quietly. "It will give me the energy to heal..."

"Well good then," he rumbled.

I glanced at him for a moment and then around as we passed through the fortress city as we passed by many of the halls. We walked down a large flight of stairs, and he stopped to let me gaze down. Holding on to the railing, I looked down and inhaled a soft breath. The city was full of layers upon layers of stairways and rooms. A fortress in its own right. I caught Thorin's smile, and he chuckled when I continued to stare.

"I thought dwarves didn't like inviting outsiders into their homes. Let alone a city such as this," I said finally yanking myself back and he walked forward again.

"Usually we don't," Thorin replied honestly. "But I couldn't leave you where I had found you last night. I am a dwarf, but not a fool. I will not turn away someone who needed my help, and that was exactly what you needed."

"Thank you," I murmured, and then watched two older dwarves approach us as we entered yet another large hall.

I paused seeing the dwarf on the right wearing a crown. It was etched with gold, and as I looked at him I noticed how well it suited him. His beard was long and fine, decorated with metals to compliment the crown. He was the same height as I was, but his presence alone was something that had me stopping in my tracks. This was a King, and a very powerful King. Beside him, the other dwarf wore no crown, and he was missing his left eye. Above his brow he sported ink that went across his forehead. His beard was just as well groomed as the King's, and he had beads that separated his mustache. It was a simple decoration, and one that looked good on him. I noticed both of them had piercing blue eyes, just like Thorin did.

"It is good to see you awake lass," the one on the left said with a smile, his voice raspy.

"Arina, I'd like you to meet my father, Thrain, and my grandfather, King Thror," Thorin said formally and I felt my face pale as my suspicions proved me right.

Thror smiled at my expression, and waved his hand in dismissal. "Do not think anything of it lass," he rumbled. "Thorin here told us what happened last night. You are welcome to stay here as long as you like. He'll be looking after you, until you are well enough to leave. And if you don't, you are more than welcome to stay here."

I felt myself fumble for words, so I just nodded my head and lowered my eyes. I was in the presence of pure royalty, and I had no idea how to act. "Forgive me," I stammered. "I guess I'm just shocked is all."

"Thorin will take good care of you," Thrain smiled. "I'm sure you'll see us much more. It's a lot to adjust to I'm sure. Take your time. You have much healing to do."

When they left us, I sucked in a breath as Thorin kept leading me on. I didn't know much about Erebor given what had been my life for the last twelve years, but I had known of the city by at least its name. This was the house of Durin, and Durin's folk. In Dwarven standards, this was a very important family. A direct line to Durin himself I knew that.

"You all right lass?" Thorin asked gently.

"Mmm, just need to eat," I said quietly. "I might need to sit down. This is a big change."

"You have time," he answered, his deep voice soothing.

Well at least we have a bit more information on Arina and how she came to know Thorin. :D

I want to thank everyone for reading this and giving it some love! I'm starting to work real hard on this story, and I feel I'm getting better everyday! I hope you guys enjoy reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it.

Arina is a completely new character to me, she's the first I've come up with. If you've read my Spartacus story, Kayden was literally my go to character for almost everything. So for me to come up with someone else, and get a past going and creating someone entirely new to me has been such a great challenge.

Read, review, favorite, you know what to do! Reviews encourage me to keep going! Without them, the story seems to lose its life and I find it hard to continue on.

Thank you!