Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is not my own, yadda yadda yadda. I'm not making any money off of this. (Though I wish I could.)
A/N: I tried to write in the whole talking animal, truly, I did. But, for the life of me, I couldn't make it sound right, and I couldn't make it fit. I also found Beorn difficult to get right, since we don't see nearly as much of him as I would have liked. I apologize in advance!
Long after my companions slept, I stayed awake. As tired as I was, I just couldn't settle down. The argument Thorin and I had had was fresh in my mind and I couldn't get over my irritation for him just then. He was behaving like a stubborn little boy who couldn't get his way, and it made me angry.
I took to nibbling on a bit of left-over dried jerky that Bombur had prepared from the scraps of a small buck Kili had taken down a few days prior. It was tough and tasteless, but I found myself to be fairly hungry after our run that morning.
It wasn't long after I had settled myself in a little nook off to the side that all manner of animals came to sniff me out. It had not taken long for it to become very obvious of their distaste towards the dwarves, particularly after a large black dog hefted a leg and pissed on Dwalin's boot. Me, they seemed endlessly curious about and, when I didn't shoo them away, I found myself surrounded by sheep, goats, a small fox, four dogs, and even a spotted tom-cat who eyed me warily from his perch on a chair.
It was strange. Their eyes were so intelligent and self-aware that it was unnerving. I felt like I was being silently judged, and I wasn't sure what the out come would be.
The small fox was the first to creep close. He eyed me suspiciously, sniffing with his nose outstretched. I couldn't help but laugh when he jumped three feet into the air just because I shifted my foot. He looked at me reproachfully, and I tossed him a piece of jerky.
And so I found out that, much like men, the way to an animals heart is its stomach. Before long, I had given out the last few pieces of jerky to the dogs, foxes, and even the aloof cat. Even the few mice who approached me were given small crumbs.
It took forever to finally lay down and find a comfortable spot because, once the animals realized I had no more food, they began to settle around me. The large dog who had pissed on Dwalin served as my pillow while the rest huddled around, on or against me. Even the little fox snuggled up under my arm once I curled on my side. Finally warm and content, I fell asleep.
I woke up very suddenly and wasn't sure at first what it was that had jerked me from my sleep. My heart was in my throat as I looked around, a very much unwanted wave of fear coursing through me. I noticed that the animals around me where all awake but, though alert, calm, and that did a lot in easing my nerves. When I realized that most of them were looking up near the dining area, my eyes followed.
Gandalf stood, speaking in low tones with an incredibly tall creature that I assumed to be Beorn. He towered over the wizard and would have even looked down upon the tallest of elves. His frame was large and lean. I strained my eyes to see in the dim light, curiosity now overriding the fear I had felt before.
I wasn't sure if he felt my eyes on him, or if the shifting of the animals had given me away, but suddenly the great hulking man turned and faced me. Gandalf's eyes found my own. He smiled encouragingly and waved me over.
I hesitated for a minute, before slowly unwinding myself from my bed companions. I picked my way carefully over to Beorn and Gandalf.
I have been short and relatively slim all my life. I was used to being small. But standing next to Beorn made me feel positively tiny. The skin-changer was easily eight foot tall and so terribly imposing. His posture was easy and light, but it was like looking at a wild animal. There was a ferocity and a sense of unpredictability within him.
We studied each other for a moment. I shivered when the golden-brown eyes of his bear form looked me over. His face was handsome in a rugged sort of way, his jaw line sharp and angled. His hair wasn't the mottled brown and grey as it had been in the movies, but much more the black that Tolkien had described in the books. It was long and shaggy, spilling long past his shoulders. He had surprisingly little hair on his face, only days old stubble coating his cheeks and around his mouth. Hair coated his arms and bare chest, the trail of thick curling locks spilling into the loose draw-string pants he wore. His feet were bare and though tough looking, surprisingly delicate.
He leaned down towards me slowly, as though not to spook me, and reached out a hand that could have easily encircled my wrist twice. I stopped breathing for a moment as he touched my shoulder and I winced, but he merely pulled away, a small brown mouse suddenly in his hand.
After setting the small creature down on a ledge, he stood to his full height and looked down at me, not unkindly.
"And what is such a little lamb doing in the company of dwarves?" His voice was low pitched and rumbling. "The Halfling I found curious enough but to find a female of man in their midst, well. That is strange indeed."
"I am bound in this quest as strongly as any other in this company, Sir." I said, my voice sounding so unbelievably small. He chewed this over for a moment.
"The wizard has told me of your travels and of your place within this…company. You must be an odd creature indeed to have been accepted amongst the dwarves. Halflings and wizards are one thing, but it is well known that dwarves are not fond of Men."
"Well, Sir, as you had noticed before, I am not a man. And for whether I am odd, well, perhaps its best if you come to your own conclusion." I answered lightly. He laughed at that, a surprising bark of a sound.
"Aged I might be, but my eyes are still sharp. A woman you are, and as fine of one as I have seen," His voice was suddenly teasing and he appraised me appreciatively. I felt a blush creep up my cheeks. "As for your advice, I think I will decide for myself what sort of creature you are."
"Th-thank you for the compliment, and, too, for your hospitality. It is kind of you to allow to stay here and rest."
"Now, little lamb," he tilted his head at me. "How do you know I have not yet decided to eat you all for trespassing?"
"I think a good story should give us at least one days rest and a good meal," I answered. Beorn laughed again
"This much is true, for even if the wizards' story is a false one, entertainment is not often found in my corner of the wild, and a good story comes along but once in a great long while.
"Go now, and find your rest, little lamb. In the morning, I shall decide what manner of company you keep and come to a decision on whether or not I shall allow you to stay here."
"Thank you, Sir."
Gandalf smiled at me from behind Beorn and I waved at him before making my way back to my corner. I settled myself back down among the dogs and soon drifted back off to sleep.
The others let me sleep that morning. Everyone was already up and around the breakfast table by the time I rolled out of my spot on the floor and, stretching, made my way to them. Balin shoved Bofur to the side and let me climb on to the bench. The others bid me good morning.
"You smell like dog," Bofur complained.
"And yet, I still smell better then you." I shot back. Beorn poured me a huge glass of milk and I smiled up my thanks at the skin- changer as he passed. He nodded in acceptance, and cast a long look over at Thorin who was sitting apart from everyone.
"So," Beorn started, slowly. "You are the one they call Oakenshield. Tell me, why is Azog the Defiler hunting you?"
"What do you know of Azog?" Thorin asked carefully.
"My people were the first to live in the mountains, before the Orcs came down from the North. The Defiler killed most of my family, but some he enslaved."
His voice was detached but the pain and anger were still very much evident in his eyes.
"Not for work, you understand. But for sport. Caging skin-changers and torturing them seemed to amuse him."
"There are others like you?" Bilbo asked, curious.
"Once, there were many."
"And now?"
I watched Beorn turn to gaze at the small hobbit.
"Now… There is only me."
We all were silent as his heavy words hit us. This great man was more alone in all this world then even me. I at least had others of my race around, even if I didn't know any. But he had out lived everyone he had ever loved or cared for and I wondered if he had the survivors guilt that so many from my home had felt.
Beorn sat down and we all began to eat quietly.
"You need to reach the mountain before the last days of Autumn?" The skin-changer said, finally.
"Before Durin's Day falls, yes." Gandalf answered.
"You are running out of time."
I sat quietly at the table, along with everyone else, and listened to the conversation between Gandalf and Beorn. My thoughts strayed to our travels ahead as the two began to discuss Mirkwood. I really wasn't looking forward to our imprisonment by Thranduil, and I wondered how he would react to my presence.
"What do you mean?" Thorin's voice brought me back to the present.
"These lands are crawling with Orcs. Their numbers are growing and you are on foot. You will never reach the forest alive."
Beorn stood up from his chair and looked us all over.
"I don't like dwarves. They're greedy and blind, blind to the lives of those they deem lesser than their own." He scooped up a small mouse that Bofur had brushed off his arm. I frowned at him and looked back up at Beorn as he approached Thorin slowly.
"But Orcs I hate more. What do you need?"
"Some of our company is still injured from our fight, Sir." I said softly. Thorin looked at me sharply. "All that we ask is a few days rest and supplies for our travels through Mirkwood."
Beorn turned slowly to face me. He walked back to stand in front of me before slowly holding out his hand. I gladly took the small mouse in my hand, gently stroking its head.
"For you, little lamb," He smiled and winked, his face impish suddenly. "I would put up with dwarves for an eternity."
I blushed crimson and he laughed again, walking away and leaving us to finish breakfast. Everyone stared at me before breaking out into laughs, teasing me endlessly about 'taming the wild beast.' Thorin was the only one who stayed quiet. When he stood and left the house abruptly, I frowned.
I excused myself from the group after telling them all to shut the hell up, and followed after Thorin.
I closed the door solidly behind me, gladly shutting the voices of the dwarves out, who had begun to teasingly bet when the wedding between Beorn and I would be. I leaned against the solid wood a moment, rolling my eyes.
I pushed off of the door and went looking for the stubborn dwarf. It didn't take me long before I found him staring off in the distance at the back of the huge house.
"Thorin..?" I asked. I was still irritated, but that did not mean I wasn't concerned for the jerk. He was back to being the very much stoic and brooding self he had been when we had first met and I didn't like it.
He turned his head only slightly but other then that stayed silent.
"What's wrong?" The moment the words left my mouth, I winced. Thorin glanced at me.
"An enemy I long thought dead has come back to haunt me. We still have leagues to go 'ere we reach our destination, and Durin's day is fast approaching. Yet here we are, begging help from a skin-changer." His voice was sharp.
"You're frustrated, and I understand that. I can not begin to imagine how you feel about Azog, and I won't try. And as far as begging from a skin-changer, well, I'll have you know I did not beg once. There is a lot to be said for simply asking."
"Indeed," Thorin let out a snort. "He seems rather fond of you, at least."
"Well, I am charming."
"Charming? Hardly. You butt heads with me at every turn." He argued, turning to face me now, frowning.
"It wouldn't happen so often if you weren't such an ass." I retorted.
"Why must you disrespect me so? No one has ever dared to speak to me as you do."
"Because you need it. Everyone else is so busy kissing the ground you walk on to realize when you are being unreasonable. Don't get me wrong, Thorin, I respect the hell out of you and all that you've done and been through for your people. But you let your anger get the better of you way too often, and one of these days, its going to get not only you but everyone you care for in deep shit."
"You speak as though you do not ever get angry at your lot in life," Thorin growled suddenly.
"Damn straight I do. But at least when I get pissy, the only person I am getting in trouble is myself. You mouth off to the wrong person or react hastily, and suddenly we are all in trouble."
Thorin's jaw worked and, despite the fact that I was very irritated, I found the familiar gesture endearing. He let out a long steadying breath.
"My words yesterday were poorly spoken," He admitted after a pause. "But I do resent your implied words that I do not care for my people as much as you. That I would have truly charged head long into a fray that I knew we could never hope to win because I had too much pride to ask for assistance from Beorn."
Though he kept his tone even, there was a hint of hurt there and I felt guilty suddenly. I knew Thorin well enough by now to realize that he often spoke words in anger that he did not truly mean and, while that didn't make it right, I should have known better then to rise to his bait. I looked down and shuffled uncomfortabl.
"I didn't mean to imply that, Thorin. I know that you put aside your pride to ask for help from the elves, and they refused. I know that you have begged and groveled and worked your ass off to scrape out a living for those you love." I sighed and looked up to meet his eyes. "I'm really sorry I said that to you."
Thorin took a long steadying breath, closed his eyes, and sighed, too. When he opened his eyes again, I was thankful to see that he no longer looked quite so sad and serious.
"Is the all-knowing Talya apologizing? To me? Quickly, call Ori to me so that he may make note of this momentous occasion." His voice was suddenly teasing and I huffed.
"And that is the last time I apologize to you." I muttered grumpily. Thorin smiled softly at me then and stepped a few paces closer to me. I shifted uncomfortably as my heart skipped a beat.
"Then I shall treasure the words always." He teased, his voice soft. I punched his arm lightly and he didn't even flinch. "Truly, Talya, you are as stubborn and prideful as any dwarf I have known. I accept your apology, and realize that I may never hear the likes of it again."
"You are really an ass, you know that, right?"
"So you have said."
After my conversation with Thorin, we returned to the company, who quickly resumed their earlier teasing. While Thorin was still very much somber, it was obvious he was putting in an effort to be light-hearted again. As night fell, he himself led a few dwarven songs that he had grown up with and I smiled at the effort. I loved how Fili and Kili lit up when their uncle joined us in our banter and jokes, and it seemed that their reaction alone made Thorin try harder.
The next day was spent repairing our clothes, sharpening our weapons and, in at least my case, bathing. It had been weeks since Rivendell, and I was longing for a chance to wash my hair and the rest of me thoroughly. Once Beorn had assured me I would be safe at the large pond in his territory, and after cheekily asking if I was sure I did not want his company, I set off to wash, a thick wool towel and cloth in hand, and several dogs trotting after me.
I made sure to check my surroundings before tugging off my clothes and slipping into the large spring-fed pond. The water was warm, at least in the shallows, and I set about washing with a woolen cloth. The dogs sat around the edge of the pond and I wondered if Beorn had told them to watch over me. After that thought came the suspicion that he would be later asking the animals to describe what they saw.
Gandalf had made mention that the animals could speak, but I had yet to hear a word. When I had casually brought this up to Beorn, he had smiled broadly and answered me in a soft tone, saying that all creatures of earth spoke if you were willing to listen.
The sun was high up when I finally slipped from the water and dried off. I tugged on a white linen shirt and dark pants that Bilbo had lent me. They were quite tight across my chest and ass, but I suppose I couldn't really complain. It gave me a chance to wash my clothes at least. I had wanted to refuse but Bilbo had insisted, pointing out that he had not lost his belongings, unlike the rest of us, and that it was the least he could do for all the times I had stood up for him. The gesture was touching, and so I accepted.
I was singing loudly while in the middle of washing my clothes when a low-toned growl made me jerk my head up. One of the dogs, a brindle bitch, was growling with her hackles raised, starring at the trees and brush nearby. I quickly dropped the shirt in my hand and grabbed for my sword, pulling the blade free from its sheath and coming to stand on the shore.
Thorin slowly came out of the brush, his hands held up with an amused look on his face.
"Christ, Thorin, you scared the hell out of me," I barked, my heart racing. He bowed his head at me as he approached.
"I apologize. My nephews were concerned that you were taking so long, but also did not want to disturb your bathing. Beorn assured us you were well, but I decided to scout the area myself to be sure."
I wasn't sure it was possible, but my face paled at the same time that a thick blush began to creep up the back of my neck.
"So… How long have you been standing there?" I asked quickly, putting away my sword and returning to washing just to I wouldn't have to look him in the eye.
"Long enough to hear the racket you would pass for singing." He answered easily. I glowered at him and I flung my very wet shirt at him. He caught it easily.
"That was rude. I express my concern for your safety, and yet you assault me. I am wounded." Thorin put an open palm over his heart. I rolled my eyes and he took that moment to chuck my sodden shirt back at me. It caught me off guard and, as I made to grab for the shirt, I slipped and fell solidly on my ass back into the pond. I sputtered as water splashed me in the face.
Thorin laughed softly, then walked over to the edge of the water. He held out his hand to me and I begrudgingly took it. He helped to my feet and, as I regained my footing, I noticed that the laughter died in his eyes. Something else I couldn't recognize replaced it, and I caught his eyes roaming over me. I remembered suddenly that I was wearing a very wet white shirt. I swallowed hard.
Thorin dropped his gaze very suddenly and tugged off his cloak. He thrust it at me abruptly and I took it carefully.
"Cover yourself," He muttered. "Beorn watches you as it is."
Without another word, he turned on his heels and left me standing with his cloak in my hands, wondering what the hell just happened.