Chapter 63
I was up before the sun rose, and listened as Aragorn and Legolas came out ready to go. Legolas quietly sat next to me, and I wagged my tail in light greeting. He laid a hand on my back for a moment and everyone soon joined us. Gimli was ready shortly after us and when Boromir walked out, he glanced at me. I gave him a narrowed look, unable to help it and lifted my lip to show teeth. He scoffed at me, and turned around to look for someone, obviously curious.
"What is this?" he asked flatly. "We're bringing a dog along?"
"You really are dense, you know that?" I asked flatly, and he froze.
"You...what are you?" he glared.
"She is a shifter. One of the last," Gandalf spoke up. "She was present at the Battle of the Five Armies, and for the Great Battle of Gundabad. Trust me when I tell you, it would be wise not to irritate her. The Queen of Erebor is not someone you'd want as an enemy. I don't know who you'd be more terrified of, Thorin or herself."
"I heard Thorin perished in that battle," Boromir grunted. "He was nothing but a legend, buried in stone."
"My husband is very much alive, I can assure you. You insult me," I growled. "Please, stop talking."
He glared at me again before moving off and standing on his own. I watched him with a narrowed look, and then lifted my head when Lord Elrond caught my attention. Him and a few other elves came to see us off. Seeing the look on his face, I turned human and approached him. I didn't fail to noticed Boromir's shocked expression. He really didn't know much of the world. Even Thane knew more than him.
"Yes?" I asked, approaching Elrond.
"I have something for you. Something that has been in the making for about a year," he rumbled.
"Really?" I asked, surprised.
I watched as an elf walked forward, holding something in a cloth. It was obviously a weapon of some sort. Opening it, Elrond pulled out a scabbard, with the sword inside. The scabbard was the traditional black, but it had dwarven ruins on them. Picking it up, Elrond gave it to me with a slight smile. Slowly, I reached forward and took it from his hands, and examined the scabbard and hilt. The hilt was made of fine oak, and it was decorated with gold, that weaved its way into the piece right before the blade started. That was also gold, with the wings of a dragon coming from it, and the face of one. It wasn't large, and it fit in my hand just right. Quietly, I drew the sword and looked at it in surprise. It was gorgeously made, and when I moved back and flipped the blade, I was amazed at how light it was. He smiled at me.
"Your husband wished to make on for you, but he knew you were...nosy," Elrond smiled. "So, he sent me a raven and described what he wanted made. He sent over the materials that we needed, and I had it forged here."
"Wow," I murmured, looking at the blade, seeing the ruins continue. "This is amazing! What's it called?"
"The ruins on the sword say Queen Under the Mountain," Elrond answered. "The sword is known as Dragon's Bane. The hilt has traces of the black arrow that hit Smaug years ago. He wanted something similar to Orcrist, but he knew you preferred a straight sword."
"This is beautiful," I murmured. "I'll be sure to thank him when I see him..."
"May it serve you well, Arina," he sighed.
"Thank you," I said, looking up at him.
He smiled at me, and I reached up and hugged him after I strapped the sword to my side. He nodded when we parted, and I turned and joined Legolas. Lord Elrond wished us the best of luck, and finally we were on our way. I kept my my distance from Boromir as we traveled and instead brought up the last of the company. We traveled for several weeks with no interruption. I helped keep watch as best I could, while Legolas took up the other half. We guarded them while they slept, and during the days we were their eyes if anything were to see us.
"We must hold this course west of the Misty Mountains for forty days," Gandalf sighed as we sat making breakfast. "If our luck holds, the Gap of Rohan will still be open to us. From there, our road turns east, toward Mordor."
"Rohan is not safe, Gandalf," I said quietly.
"No where is safe, my dear," the wizard sighed.
I considered that, and moved off to watch Boromir and the two hobbits, Merry and Pippin. He was teaching them how to wield a sword, and my dislike for the man waned a bit. Aragorn was giving instruction when needed, smoking his pipe. I grabbed something to eat, and sighed quietly as I ate.
"If anyone should ask my opinion, which I noticed they're not," Gimli said loudly. "I'd say we're taking the long way around. Gandalf, we could pass through the mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome."
Balin. My heart immediately pounded in my chest at the mention of his name. Oh how we missed him. We had not heard anything in such a long time that we assumed was a good thing. Part of me was uneasy, because silence was never a good thing. I was being positive, hoping that Balin was well.
"No, Gimli I would not pass through Moria unless I had no other choice," Gandalf replied quietly.
I looked at him then, my head spinning so fast that my vision blurred for a moment. The wizard did not look at me, and I felt a sense of dread wash over me. Why would he not go to Moria? Jerking myself from my thoughts, I noticed Legolas rush past me to stare at something. Behind us, Merry and Pippin were taking on Boromir and I had to smile at the laughter. It didn't stop me from joining Legolas as he stared at a black object in the sky that looked like clouds.
"What is that?" Sam asked.
"Nothing, just a wisp of clouds," Gimli snorted and I resisted the urge to groan.
"It's moving fast, and against the wind."
Legolas and I tensed at the same time when I noticed what it was. He seemed to have as well, because he turned around quickly. I almost stumbled off my rock at how quickly he had turned. Instead, I jumped off immediately, and started moving.
"Crebain from Dunland!"
"Hide!" Aragorn yelled.
It put everyone in motion and we kicked out the fires and jumped into the bushes and hid the hobbits as best we could. I transformed into a small bird and stayed put next to Aragorn who had rolled under a rock formation From what I gathered, everyone was well hidden. The birds swirled around where we had been, before flying off once they were satisfied. I wanted to burn them all, but that would certainly attract attention.
"Spies of Saruman," Gandalf glared, once we all came back out. "The passage south is being watched. We must take the Pass of Caradhras."
I turned my head toward the mountain, and glared at it. Once everyone was out, I turned human again. "Gandalf..." I muttered.
No one spoke against him, so our journey to the mountain began. I wanted to strangle the wizard for taking this way. We were not very far from the mountain and Gandalf set a quick pace to toward the snowy peak.
THORIN'S POV
Gloin had made the trip back within a month and a half. What he had relayed to Thorin had the King worried. The fact that Arina had been asked by the elves to help the others on the quest seemed odd to him. Never the less, he understood why they had asked her. Thane had been extremely displeased to hear of it, claiming it should have been him instead of his mother, but Thorin had to calmly remind him that he was needed here.
Arina had been right, the Ring had been found. He was even more astonished that it had actually been Bilbo who had found it. As he thought back to the Quest for Erebor, it had completely made sense. His ability to disappear and not be seen, it had all been the Ring. His dear friend, that wonderful little hobbit had been corrupted because of that evil thing.
He had not been surprised at all when Arina had agreed to go on this quest. She had been itching to travel for so many years now, and this was her chance. He knew she'd also feel the need to help in anyway that she could. Her powers had become so strong, that only a wizard had a chance to stop her. He bristled at the thought of Saruman for a moment. He he been able to go after the wizard years ago, he would have. But she had kept it from him. He knew why, but that didn't change the rage he still felt.
Sitting in his office, he drummed his fingers on the desk. He wanted Balin here, not only to give him council, but to reassure him that things were going to be all right. He sighed, and ran a hand over his face. They very well might not see each other again, and Thorin didn't know how he felt about that. No, he did know how he felt about it, he was just trying to ignore it. He was terrified that he might not see his wife again. His Queen. They had become one over the years. Thorin wanted nothing more than to charge out of this mountain and go find her, but he couldn't.
No, he had duties here. War was coming to Middle Earth, and he knew it was coming to Erebor. Arina had mentioned it, and Gloin confirmed it when he had returned home. That just made it all the harder. Even Thane throwing a fit about it didn't help. It irritated Thorin beyond all measure, and he found himself snapping at his son more than usual. They certainly had the same tempers. It usually took Akira or even Dwalin to separate them during an argument. Dwalin had been such a help during this, and so had Akira.
She was such a momma's girl that he knew this choice bothered her. Akira had almost burst into tears when he had relayed the news to her, but she had steeled her expression and nodded. She had only a little bravery, she didn't have it in her. She was no warrior, and instead she continued focusing on her healing abilities. She enjoyed that, and she enjoyed taking care of others. Akira was much like her mother in that sense. He sighed quietly again, and looked at the table. It was his turn now. He had to be strong for the both of them, and set a good example. Arina would come back to them, and he'd remind them of that.
"Uncle?"
Jerked from his thoughts, he looked up and watched Fili walk in. He sighed, and nodded to his eldest nephew. Fili smiled lightly at him and walked in, letting the door shut behind him.
"Sorry, I knocked," he rumbled. "You're thinking."
"Just making sure we have what we need. War is coming, and I want to be as prepared as we can be," Thorin replied slowly. "I'm just trying to make sense of all this. Gloin says much is going to happen soon."
"Aye, I heard," Fili nodded. "And Arina is joining them on this?"
"She is," Thorin sighed. "I know she would not do it if she thought it was wrong. No sense in returning to tell me. Gloin said they had planned on leaving the next morning, so she stayed."
Fili nodded. "I trust her judgment. She could be a huge help to them. Especially with what is going to happen."
"Aye," Thorin sighed. "But that doesn't mean I'm happy about it."
"No, I'd expect you to be running out of here," Fili chuckled, and Thorin smiled.
"Maybe twenty years ago I would have, when Middle Earth wasn't about to fall," he answered. "She'd have my head if I abandoned this mountain for that. She'll get word to me if she needs to, I trust her on that."
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