Hi there Hobbit fans! Sorry I'm late with posting, I know. I had a school trip this week and was away from my precious laptop. I'm planning to write a very long chapter this time to make it up to you all!
Dawn came and so the company left Bag End. Bronwyn didn't know how the dwarves came to her house last night but when she woke this morning her front yard was trampled by fourteen horses. Well, pony's actually.
And now she was riding one!
She would rather walk but Thorin insisted that she had to use a pony, otherwise she would slow them down. Of course she didn't mention the fact that she had no idea how to ride a pony.
She shifted uncomfortable in her saddle when she caught a glimpse of Thorin, he was looking at her with his eyebrows raised in a questioning look.
Bronwyn sat up straight to refit her posture, not letting him know that she didn't know what she was doing. When she gained his approval he turned back around without saying a word.
She scoffed and almost had the urge to stick out her tongue at his back when she saw Dwalin glaring at her as if he knew what she was about to do. She quickly hold back her tongue and looked away, a bit embarrassed.
She focused on her surroundings and looked around the beautiful forest. They left Hobbiton for a while now. She was definitely further away from home than the first time she left.
They walked along a river that led to hills covered with rocks until they reached a cave where they would spend their first night.
Bronwyn lay in her sleeping bag near the fire. It was dark and cold and she couldn't sleep at all. Her eyes shot open when she heard a scream through the night. Her eyes shot open and jumped up from the ground and looked into the darkness.
''What was that?'' She turned to Fíli and Kíli who were sitting by the fire.
''Orcks..'' Kíli said with a serious voice.
''There will be dozens of them out there.'' Fíli added. ''They will attack in the wee hours of the night. Quick and quiet, no screams, just lots of blood.''
Bronwyn swallowed, she had never seen an Orck before and she had no idea how to defend herself when the time would come when they would run into some.
Fíli and Kíli chuckled at her reaction.
''Do you think that is funny?'' A deep voice interrupted Bronwyn's thoughts. ''Do you think a night raid by Orcks is a joke?'' Thorin scolded his nephews.
''We didn't mean anything by it.'' Kíli tried to apologize.
''Of course you didn't. You know nothing of the world.'' Thorin spat and walked away from the camp.
''Don't mind him laddie.'' Balin walked into the light of the fire. ''Thorin has more cause than most to hate Orcks.''
''Azog the defiler learned that day, that the line of Durín could not be so easily broken.''
Bronwyn listened intently to the story Balin was telling about Thorins past. She could not believe al the pain and hardship he had went through. And yet, he was still fighting.
Bronwyn thought back of her own loss she had suffered and she felt silly for a moment. When her brother died she gave up her dreams in an instant. To afraid of what could happen next but not Thorin, he never gave up, not even for a moment to reclaim his homeland.
''And I thought to myself then, there is one I could follow, there is one I could call king.'' Balin ended and Bronwyn believed him.
She looked at Thorin and could feel a new kind of respect growing for him. The way he could still stand there, proud and strong. He truly is the King under the mountain.
They continued their journey. When they came into a dark forest it started to rain. Bronwyn's clothes were soaked all the way through and she was bummed that her coat wasn't as thick as the dwarves coats. They looked warm and comfy. Hobbit coats just weren't made for riding hours on end in the rain.
Her hair stuck to her forehead and she felt a shiver down her spine. Then she felt something heavy covering her shoulders. She looked up and saw that Dwalin put a thick coat around her that was much to big for her but it felt warm and it kept her dry.
''Thank you, it is very warm but what about you?'' Bronwyn noticed that the dwarf was now wearing no coat at all.
''Dwarves are not as bothered by the cold as other creatures.'' he said flatly. He gave her one last look and groaned quietly, before he drove back to Thorins side.
''Don't worry about him laddie, he is always like that.'' The dwarf with the floppy hat, named Bofur drove beside her.
''Hmm, he is pretty intense I suppose.'' Bronwyn answered looking at Dwalins back.
''Yes, he acts al tough but he is a'right when you get to know him.'' Bofur gave Bronwyn a cheerful grin.
She couldn't help but grin back at the dwarf. Somehow he made her smile and he was easy to talk to. They talked to each other for the rest of the way about al kind of things until they reached an abandoned farm.
Bronwyn could hear Gandalf and Thorin discussing if it was safe to spend the night here. She picked something up about Elves and saw that it turned into a intense debate and Gandalf stormed away.
''Wait! Where are you going?'' Bronwyn asked a little panicked when she saw Gandalf walking past the company, into the woods.
''To seek the company of the only one who has sense, myself!'' And stormed away again, out of sight.
Great, now they have lost their wizard. Bronwyn thought to herself.
''Don't worry about him laddie -'' Bofur put his hand on her shoulder ''He'll turn up sooner or later.'' He walked away to help Bombur with the fire.
It was getting dark and the smell of food hit her nose. Her stomach started to growl and she had forgotten how hungry she was. She finished her bowl of soup with much delight, it wasn't like at home but it was warm and filled her belly nicely. Bombur really knew how to cook with only a minimum of ingredients.
She walked back towards the fire and gave her bowl back to Bombur.
''Thank you for the food. It was really good.'' She smiled at him while she gave him her thanks.
Bronwyn could see his cheeks redden under his big moustache and mumbled a you're welcome.
''Do us a favour and take this to the lads, will ya.'' Bofur pushed two bowls into her hands and jerked his head towards the direction where Fíli and Kíli were watching the ponies. Bronwyn stumbled her way through the woods, finally arriving at her destination to find a very absent minded Fíli and Kíli.
''What's the matter?'' She asked when she failed to give them their bowls.
''We have encountered a slight problem.'' Fíli and Kíli where still looking into the darkness.
''What!? You lost two ponies?! How?'' Bronwyn asked shocked when she heard the situation. They were walking further into the woods past a fallen tree.
''Shhh, don't let uncle hear you! They were probably taken.'' Kíli pointed to the fallen tree in front of them.
''Taken by what?'' Bronwyn started to panic a little. By the looks of that tree it was big and possibly quite dangerous.
Fíli jumped up. ''Well, as out official burglar we thought it would be your task to look into it!'' He pushed Bronwyn further into the woods.
''W-what me - ?'' She was cut of when they heard a loud crackling sound next to them. Bronwyn was pushed towards the ground by Fíli and Kíli when a huge creature walked past them with another two ponies, one of them was Myrtle.
''Trolls -'' Bronwyn whispered. ''We have to do something!''
''Yes, you should!'' Kíli anwsered with excitement. Bronwyn tried to protest but he cut her short.
''Mountain trolls are slow and stupid and you're so small they'll never see you. It's perfectly save!''
''Yes!'' Fíli joined in. ''If you run into any trouble, craw twice like a barn owl and once like a brown owl.''
They gave her a last push forward and a encouraging nod before they disappeared from her sight.
Are they kidding me?! What the hell was she supposed to do? And how in Eru's name does a barn owl crow? Bronwyn walked further into the woods towards the camp fire of the trolls. She peeked through the trees and saw the ponies trapped into an wooden hutch.
All right Bronwyn don't chicken out now, the ponies need you!
She moved closer towards the hutch, trying not to let the trolls see her. They were to busy arguing with each other that they didn't notice her.
When she finally arrived at the hutch she let out a relieved sigh. They hadn't noticed her yet. She tried to peel of the ropes around the wooden posts but they were to tight. She quickly looked around to find something she could use to cut the ropes when her eyes rested on a sharp knife. Unfortunately the knife hung on the waist of one of the trolls. But it was the only change she had. She snuck over to the troll and tried to peel it from his loincloth. She was so focused on the knife that she didn't noticed that the troll started to sneeze. He grabbed her and pulled her up towards his nose and sneezed on her. Bronwyn made a noise in disgust, she was completely covered in troll snot. Not to mention that the troll was now only a few inches away from her.
''Ah, blimey! Look what's come out of me ootah? It's got arms and legs and everything!''
Bronwyn tried to wiggle her way out of his grip when she heard a familiar voice.
''Drop him!'' Kíli jumped out of the bushes followed by the whole company of dwarves.
This scared the troll that was holding Bronwyn and he dropped her on top of Kíli and started to kick the other dwarves. She was so relieved to see him that she could kiss him. What of course wasn't a good idea for she was covered in troll snot and they still thought she was a man. Kíli put her on her feet and joined the other dwarves in combat.
Bronwyn saw that the knife was laying on the ground only a few feet away from her. She picked it up and renewed her journey towards the ponies, that was her mission after all. She cut through the ropes and the ponies were set free. She smiled, at least she had done something right. But that feeling didn't last long when she felt something pull her up and clasping her arms and legs.
''Let down you' a'ms or we'll whip these off!''
Bronwyn looked down at the dwarves in panic. They tightened their grip and she moaned looked up at her with disappointment written al over his face. But he still dropped down his weapons and the others followed.
Now half of them were put into bags while the other half was hanging above the fire. If it continued like this, they would really get eaten. What can we do? When Bronwyn was thinking of a plan she saw a shadow trough the trees. She shot up. Was that Gandalf? Then she remembered something Gandalf once said. Trolls can't live in daylight, it turns them to stone!
What time is it? Is it almost sunrise? She needed to stall them. She tried to get on her feet, which wasn't easy wearing a uncomfortable sack.
''Um, excuse me -'' The trolls jerked their heads in surprise towards her. ''How are you going to cook them if I may ask?'' She pointed with her head towards the dwarfs that were hanging above the fire who all gave her a questioning look.
''Hmm.. That's a good question. How are you going to cook them Bert?'' The troll asked who blew his nose on her.
''We should just sit on them and squish them into jelly!'' He jumped around in excitement and the dwarves protested in horror.
Bronwyn looked in the direction of a big rock and could see the first rays of sunshine in the sky.
''Really? I thought the best way of cooking dwarf is to skin them first.'' Bronwyn ignored the angry reactions of the dwarves and continued.
''But I shouldn't risk it. They all have worms. Huge parasites.''
''No we don't! I don't have parasites!'' Kíli screamed from the ground.
Bronwyn sighed and gave them a pleading look. Thorin finally noticed what she was doing and gave the dwarves a kick so that they would join her.
''Do you think I don't know what you a'doing?'' One of the trolls stepped forward. ''Do you take us for fools -''
''The dawn will take you all!'' In that moment Gandalf jumped on the rock and hit it with his staff so it split in two. The sunlight hit the trolls and they turned into stone.
Bronwyn felt the feeling of relief wash over her. It worked. She felt her heart beating like crazy and her legs were shaking but it worked they were saved. She stalled them long enough. She really wanted to sit down but before she could sit down to relax she felt someone tugging her sack and turning her around. Looking straight into the stormy blue eyes of Thorin.
''What were you thinking going after the ponies alone?! If something like this happens you come to me first!'' He was furious.
Was he serious? She risked her life to stall them some time, which in fact saved theirs and now he was scolding her?
Bronwyn probably felt as furious as that Thorin looked. She wanted to defend herself when Gandalf interrupted.
''He had the nerve to pry for time, none of you thought of that.''
''But we wouldn't be in that situation if he -''
''Now, now Thorin. We are all safe and sound. Not a single bone broken. Now come we have more important matters to attend to. They only could have travelled by night, so there must be a cave nearby.'' Gandalf pulled Thorin away and gave Bronwyn a small wink.
But her anger hadn't calmed down.
Pompous jerk -
''Thank you for not ratting us out to uncle.'' Fíli and Kíli walked over to her and helped her out of her sack. She was so furious she hadn't even noticed that she was still wearing it.
''We know it was out fault that the ponies were taken.'' They looked really guilty and Bronwyn took pity on them.
''Don't worry about it. I can take your uncles scolding any time.'' She gave them a reassuring smile. They smiled back in relieve.
''Then you are braver than us! Uncles tantrums are a fearsome thing to behold.'' She couldn't help but laugh at that. They joined in and laughed for a while until Bronwyn's stomach started to hurt.
''Thanks ,I haven't laughed like that in a long time.'' She said while she wiped away a tear.
''You're welcome.'' Fíli and Kíli said in unusion.
''And thank you for saving us from the trolls. It was very clever to stall time. Sorry that we didn't picked it up sooner.'' Kíli hit her on the shoulder and walked towards the direction where the rest of the company went before. Fíli gave her one last grin and followed his brother into the woods.
Bronwyn just stood there holding back her tears, tears of happiness. Foolish. Don't cry about something so stupid. She laughed at herself, rubbed the final tears from her eyes and followed the rest of the company.
''Ah, just the Hobbit I was looking for.'' Gandalf came up to her when they rached a cave in the woods and were reunited with the others. He was holding a small sword.
''Hmm, yes, this will do quite nicely.'' He said while handing it to her.
''It's of Elvish make, very light and easy to handle. It will glow blue when Orcks or Goblins are nearby.''
Bronwyn pulled the sword out of the holder. It really was light and was engraved beautifully.
Her very own sword. Then another thought came to her.
''But, I don't know how to use one. I've never killed anyone.'' She looked up at Gandalf with a worried look.
''And I hope you will never have to. But if you do, remember this. Sometimes true courage is not when to take a life but to spare one.'' Gandalf gave her a pat on the shoulder.
That was useful, why do wizards always talk in riddles?
She slid the sword back into the holder and walked after Gandalf back into the woods when she saw something blue glisten in the direction of her hip. It was her sword it had turned blue! She heard a howl that sounded very close.
Wolfs?! The thought of wolves made her heart race and the image of Bilbo came into her head.
''Look out!'' One of the dwarfs shouted.
A beast jumped out of the trees charging right at her. Bronwyn was frozen with fear. The last thing she saw where bright yellow eyes before she felt an intense pain in her shoulder and fell to the ground. The beast had planted his teeth into her flesh and was now on top of her.
''Get it off!'' She heard Thorin scream and the dwarfs pulled the beast of her. Dwalin hit his axe right between the eyes into it's skull and the beast was dead.
''Wargs. That means there must be an Orck pack nearby.'' He looked over to Thorin to await orders.
Thorin looked around the forest for a way out.
''We must leave now! Get the Hobbit on his feet.''
Bofur hurried his way next to Bronwyn.
''You okay laddie?'' He looked at her torn coat, it was wet with blood.
Bronwyn nodded quickly while she covered her shoulder with her hand.
''A'right, just stay with me.'' Bofur took hold of her good arm and pulled her up from the ground.
When Thorin saw that the Hobbit was on his feet, he ordered everyone to follow him out of the woods.
They ran across a meadow when they saw Wargs with Orck riders running out of the tree line. They quickened their pace but that wasn't easy through the long grass.
Bofur pulled her along to keep up with the group. Bronwyn could feel her shoulder sting with every step she took but she knew she had to keep going.
She felt her energy drain from her body and her eyesight became blurry. She had no idea how far they had run. Everything went by in flashes. Kíli had shot one of the Wargs with an arrow while the others killed the Orck. Now they were standing in front of a big rock while other Wargs were surrounding them.
''Over here, you fools!'' They heard Gandalf's voice coming from the rock and it looked like he was in some kind of cave. Bofur pulled her towards the rocks without hesitation. Bronwyn could feel her legs weaken and stumbled over some stones into the cave and everything went black.
Bronwyn slowly opened her eyes but then remembered the events at the meadow and the last thing she remembered was Gandalf standing in some cave. She shot up a little panicked and immediately felt a sharp pain in her shoulder. She growled and her hand shot up to her sore flesh.
''Easy there, we're in Rivendell. Save and sound.'' Bronwyn looked up to see Dwalin sitting next to the bed she was apparently lying on and calmed down. She looked around the most beautiful room she had ever seen. The walls where covered with branches and to her left there were huge windows and through them she could see the beautiful gardens of Rivendell. It was already getting a bit dark.
Her hand softly rubbed over her shoulder it felt soft and she looked to the side and saw a clean bandage covering it, someone already attended to the wound.
''Aye lass, I took care of that for ya.'' Dwalin said while he crossed his arms in front of his chest.
''Ah, alright tha-'' Bronwyn froze. Wha- what did he call her? Bronwyn looked down at her shoulder and saw that the bandage didn't only cover her shoulder but also the upper part of her chest, right above her corset. That of course wasn't something man wore so it was only obvious he had found out.
''Don't worry lass. I didn't look if that's what you're worried about.'' Dwalin looked calm and not really surprised at his discovery at all.
Bronwyn was still to shocked and scared to say anything. She just stared at a random spot on the bed.
''I already suspected that you were a lass for awhile now.'' Bronwyn was surprised and finally had the courage to look him in the eye. ''You knew, how?''
Dwalin scoffed. ''I may have little experience with Hobbits but I do recognize a woman when I see one, thank you very much. But unfortunately I can't say the same about my brethren.''
Bronwyn felt a bit relieved at that. The others didn't know about her secret and more importantly Thorin didn't know.
''But as Thorin's right hand I have to inform him about this.'' Bronwyn's relief quickly faded.
''No, please don't!'' Dwalin took a step closer towards her with his hand still crossed in ftonr of his chest.
''Then give me one good reason why I should still trust you.''
Bronwyn took a deep breath and told him everything what Gandalf had told her the morning he came to her home.
''That wizard! I knew he couldn't be trusted. How dare he fool us?!'' Dwalin growled and stormed back and forth through the room. Bronwyn could only look at the ranting dwarf. She knew his loyalty was with Thorin and he had to tell him about her and that would be the end ot it. Her adventure was over. She felt sadness come over her. Well, at least she had seen a bit more of the world. Then he came to a full stop with his back turned at her.
''But he was right. Thorin would never let a woman join the company even if it would mean not having a burglar at all.'' He turned around to face her and continued in a stern voice. ''I will keep your secret but only because you are important in this quest. ''
But Bronwyn didn't care why she did not had to go home yet! A big smile spread across her face and she smiled at the dwarf. ''Thank you.''
Dwalin looked a bit taken aback by her sudden burst of happiness and cleared his throat.
''Well, yes but if Thorin does find out don't count on me to safe you a'right?'' He tried to sound intimidating and Bronwyn nodded. Still a big grin was plastered on her face.
''And you should probably get down for dinner. Bofur is quite worried about you. I literally had to kick him out when you blacked out.'' That said, he walked out of the room and gave her one last look before he closed the door.
Bronwyn let out a sigh and fell back into the soft bed. Someone finally found out. Maybe it wasn't a bad thing, now she had an ally. Someone who knew her struggle and promised to keep it a secret. But how long was it going to be a secret? If Dwalin could look right through her, how long would the other take to see it? How long will it take for Thorin to see it..? She pondered about the situation some more when she heard her stomach growl. She hadn't noticed how hungry she was until now.
She jumped out of bed and went down stairs to eat, where she was happily greeted by Bofur and the rest of the company. They spent the rest of the evening eating and laughing, while Thorin and Gandalf were discussing their swords with king Elrond.
It was getting late and Bronwyn yearned for bed. She bid the company a good night and walked to her room. She sat on her bed and loosened the bandage from her shoulder and put some of the ointment on the wound Oín had given her before.
She released herself from the tight corset and felt that amazing feeling of freedom from her body. She nestled herself into bed and instantly fell in a dreamless sleep.
The next day Bronwyn woke up from the sunlight that hit her face. Her shoulder was still sore but felt much better after Oín's ointment. She walked across the room and looked at herself in the mirror. She was shocked to see the Hobbit before her! Her hair was a mess and her face was dirty with dried up blood from her shoulder. her face also had some cuts and bruises, probably because of her fall down the cave. She felt dirty and longed for a hot bath.
She went out of her room and walked into the corridor when she bumped into Dwalin.
''Ah, do you know where I can get a quiet bath?'' By quiet she meant of course private with no change of running into other dwarves.
''There is a bath on the west side. We all went before dinner yesterday so you wouldn't find any dwarfs there for a while.'' It looked like he knew exactly what she meant. She gave her thanks with a smile and hurried her way towards the baths. She couldn't wait to soak her body in warm water.
She walked into a room that looked like the dressing area. She didn't felt safe with undressing so openly so she found a smaller space that looked like some sort of closet. Perfect. She started undressing and wrapped a towel around her, Then she opened the door and looked around to make sure no one was there.
Bronwyn arrived at the bath place. It looked more like a indoor spring filled with milky white water that smelled like herbs and flowers. The edges of the bath were covered with slick rocks.
Bronwyn sank into the spring and felt her shoulder sting in protest when the water hit her sore flesh. She groaned and lifted her shoulder so it was barely touching the soapy water.
She closed her eyes and rested her head back against the rocks that were surrounding the spring. It felt amazing, how she had missed this. Just the luxury of a nice bath. She let the warm water soak her tiny body. She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice the water shifting around her. As if someone has entered the bath with her.
''How is your shoulder?'' A low growling voice echoed through the room.
Bronwyn's eyes shot open and her arm shot instinctively in front of her chest when she looked at no one other than Thorin Oakenshield! Her heart jumped in her chest and she sank a little further into the water, ignoring her pained shoulder. What was he doing here?! Didn't he already had his bath? Then she remembered that he and Gandalf talked to King Elrond most of the night so he probably didn't had time for a bath last night. But why him of all people?!
She tried not to stare at the naked dwarf in front of her. His bare muscular chest was covered in a thin layer of black hair. He rested his arms on the rocks behind him and she could see his flexing muscles and every battle scar he had ever gotten.
She could feel her heart beat fastening in her chest. She had never actually seen a naked man before. Well, her brother in the bathtub when they were children but he definitely didn't look like that!
She could feel her cheeks reddening when she almost forgot that he had asked her a question.
''I-It's fine, just a bit sore really.'' She stammered trying to pull her eyes away from the naked dwarf in front of her.
She needed to get away! At this rate he would definitely find out that she was a woman! There were definitely some key points that couldn't be overlooked.
She looked down, making sure everything was still covered by the milky water and slowly made her way towards the exit of the tub when something came in front of her, blocking her path. A broad chest with black hair to be precise. Thorin looked down at her with piercing blue eyes. He was only a few inches away from her. Eeek, why is he so close? She tried to move around him but he grabbed her upper arm. His hand was so big it covered up most of her arm. She could feel her skin burning underneath his grasp.
''I think it's better that you remain in Rivendell when we move on to the misty mountains. You will only slow us down.''
Bronwyn looked up shocked. Was he serious?
His grip tightened and he pulled her even closer towards her. If he pulled her up even more there would definitely be something exposed that she rather wouldn't. They weren't as big as Camilla's but they are definitely there!
''You don't know how to fight or how to defend yourself. I saw how scared you were when that Warg charged towards you. You had time to jump away or to defend yourself but you did nothing. There is no place for little Hobbits who are afraid of dogs in this company.''
Pats! ''How dare you. I left my home, my friends, my life. I risked everything to help you get your home back. No I'm not a great warrior. I don't know how to fight or to survive in the wild. And yes, maybe I am just a little Hobbit who is afraid of dogs but at least I'm not acting like an asshole like you!''
She had snapped. Thorin had dropped her back into the water when he felt her hand hit his face.
Bronwyn swam around him. Thorin was so shocked that he only looked straight ahead, still trying to figure out what just happened. He didn't even notice Bronwyn climbing out of the bath and rushed her way towards the dressing room and into her closet. She shut the door behind her and leaned back against it.
Oh Eru, oh Eru, oh Eru what have I done?! I slapped him! I hit Thorin Oakenshield in the face! Why why why? Fool of a Took!
Phew done! A long chapter as promised! I hope you had as much fun reading this chapter as I had writing it :) Let me know what you think of it!
As always please review/follow/favourite. It would mean the world to me!