Thank you to everyone who reviewed and followed my story! I'd like more actual reviews but i guess beggers can't be choosers. I'm glad that people even view it, not to mention the people who actually read it, I know that the story seems a bit rushed in a way but it gets better, I promise. Anyways, enjoy the story!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hobbit or it's characters, I do however own my own characters along with the artwork I put into this series.
Chapter Eight: Dreams Within Reality
Lian's eye lids fluttered open, feeling something gently brush across her cheek and into her hairline. It felt quite pleasant as it traveled along her scalp, taking soft handfuls of her rich brown hair and kneading the locks.
Her lips parted slightly, a gentle sigh escaping them; causing the hand to stop abruptly and draw back briefly before continuing hesitantly. It reminded her of the few times she had fallen asleep in Falian's cave. The dwarf had often stroked her hair with a sense of fondness, maybe it was because her hair reminded him of his beloved or maybe it was because she had grown on him that much.
This had to be a dream, no other man aside from her father and Falian had touched her so fondly and she felt a sense of safety in these hands. Though worn and rough they still held tenderness and warmth that brought peace to her mind.
"Falian." She breathed; the effects of sleep still heavy upon her body and mind with a feeling of fogginess. "What does love feel like?" She asked. Her mind blurred with the onslaught of remembrance.
The touch had completely stopped, resting upon her head now and she knew Falian was never good with emotional things. "Ya told me that I would one day have to marry whether out of love or duty but what if I cannot do either? What if I die before I feel such things?" She whispered, staring unseeingly into the flames of the fire.
"Tell me what it felt like…when ya felt love with yer beloved. I want to at least imagine what it would feel like." She had not realized tears had begun to run down her cheeks, silently falling from her flesh.
"I want to imagine how it feels to love someone so much ya would give yer life for them." Her breathing hitched, holding soft sobs as her eyes remained glazed in a dreamlike pool of murky soft green.
Suddenly his hand came to cover her eyes, startling her slightly but it was all faint in her dream like state. Silence is all that met her and she only let out a small sigh before falling back into her slumber.
The twittering of birds awakened Lian, tiny rays of sunshine peeking over the mountains as it rose and Lian slowly sat up, groaning at the obvious soreness throughout her body. Cautiously she stood, careful not to hurt herself unnecessarily.
She let out a content sigh as she stood, gingerly stretching out to test each limb carefully though wincing at the stab of pain to her lower ribs.
Everything was mobile and useable; she knew that she'd not be able to swing an axe or anything of the kind until she was healed though. This was when realization dawned on her along with horror.
"No, no, no." She chanted, hastily running a hand down her face and then through her hair as she stressed. "It can't be…" She breathed.
"Lass?"
She turned, eyebrows furrowed and lips pursed to see Balin hobbling over to her, sleep still present in his demeanor.
"Balin, please tell me someone grabbed my weapons on their way out of the Goblin caves." She pleaded in desperation and the old dwarf's puzzled expression didn't help the sinking feeling forming deep within her belly.
"I don't think so, it all happened so fast that I don't know who grabbed what." He answered.
"I'll never be able to forgive myself if I lost my axe." Her fingers curled into claws as they wove inside her hair in distress.
"Calm down, lass. We can ask everyone if they happened to grab it along the way." Balin soothed, trying to calm the panicking woman and it works to an extent.
The company was just beginning to wake up and Lian immediately started to ask about her axe but many of them said no; the lass beginning to lose hope in a tilde wave of depression.
"Is this what you're looking for lassy?" Gloin suddenly chimed in, holding up the very axe she thought she'd never see again, not to mention her mace also.
"Gloin, thank ya so, so much." She exclaimed, receiving her weapons in a bout of joy from the dwarf.
"I almost thought it to be a scrap metal if not for the handle." He huffed.
"None the less, I am deeply grateful." She breathed.
"How special of a friend was the one who gave you that axe? Sounds almost like a lover." He drawled out the end with evident interest.
"Heavens no! More like a second father figure." She laughed, safely strapping her weapons to her back once more. "He was my first ever friend and died when I was only fourteen years old." She explained.
"I think ya would have gotten along with him." She mused towards the dwarf.
"I doubt that very seriously, dwarves tend to befriend their own race." Gloin stated matter-of-factly, packing his own bed roll and starting a fire for breakfast. If only he knew that her friend was indeed a dwarf, she chuckled at the idea of his reaction.
"So ya never befriend Elves?" Lian questioned, already know the answer but asking for pure amusement.
"Of course not! That would be the most disturbing, abomination ever!" He bellowed, disgust and anger coloring his face.
"I'm going to laugh when that comes back and bites ya in the ass." She laughed, patting the dwarf good natured. "Where's Thorin?" She had finally noticed that their leader wasn't among the company.
"Probably collecting his thoughts, he had quite a…unusual situation last night." Gandalf chuckled, patting her head fondly as he passed.
"What kind of situation?" Kili asked, always the curious fellow.
"The kind that is none of your business."
Thorin had joined the company once more, sending a sharp glare towards his nephew as he took a seat on the nearby rock and Kili mumbled something sarcastic under his breathe before taking sitting upon a log with Fili and Ori.
Breakfast was served and Lian took a seat next to Nori and Bofur, inhaling her food per usual.
"What's that?" She leaned over to see Nori whittling away at something small and wooden. "It's a horse." He held out his hand to show a small miniature horse made of red cedar wood, small details carved into its mane.
Lian smiled and brushed her gloved fingers over it gingerly, feeling the tiny grooves in the wooden toy. "It's very well done." She complimented him.
"I make toys so I have to be good at it or else I'd be a fraud." He shrugged, pocketing the horse to eat his food.
"I wish I had toys like that growing up, ours were mostly dolls made out of rags or straw." She hummed.
"I've heard that Forochel was a quaint kingdom that sold their furs to our kin in Ered Luin in exchange for weapons and utensils." Nori claimed.
"That's true. We're not very profitable, I'm not sure if we'll ever grow beyond where we are now." Lian sighed. "No crops to grow and what livestock we have we need. It's stressful."
"I'm sure that someone will think up something, dwarves weren't always profitable either. Why do you think Bofur became a common thief?" Nori jabbed a thumb towards Bofur who gave him a nasty glare.
"Even Thorin had to do time as a wandering blacksmith just to get by. Times weren't easy for us but we did what was needed to survive. Now we're going to retrieve our kingdom so it's either do or die." He stated casually.
"I once took up a job as a tracker, my father doesn't know of course though. A stranger came into our kingdom one day and asked if we had any whores for him to spend his night with." She wrinkled her nose at the memory.
"He had tried to ask me for assistance and I punched him square in the jaw. He was the most queer fellow and had immediately asked to employ me to find a man. Said the fellows name was Gundred and to bring him back to him alive."
"Needless to say that I found Gundred out in the middle of the Floskien Forest half crazed from the wild. Turns out that they were brothers who had lost each other after some sort of war, it was quite an interesting tale." She chuckled.
"I'd like to hear that tale some time." Ori chimed in; obviously he had been listening in.
"Well I'm sure we'll have plenty of time for that on the way, it's time we head out." Balin ushered the company to pack their thing and soon they were all ready to move on.
"Bilbo, I trust you to scout ahead and see what may be awaiting us." Gandalf patted the hobbits shoulder; who had now gone pale.
"Me? I don't know about that…" He bit his lip nervously.
"No need to be afraid. Just scream if you need us." Gandalf reassured.
"Scream…right…" Bilbo mumbled sarcastically as he climbed the rocky slopes to look over, they were not quite over the Misty Mountain's yet so it was most likely that Azog had caught up despite their lead.
The hobbit disappeared over the slope, leaving the company to wait for his return or scream and Lian stepped up to Thorin's side, glancing down at the dwarf. "What happened last night?" She asked, quirking her head to the side a little in curiosity.
"Nothing." He answered sharply, his tone leaving no room for conversation but she ignored it and continued. "It obviously wasn't nothing if yer working so hard to cover it up." She teased.
Silence met her, causing her to raise an eyebrow; usually he would snap at her and say that it was none of her business but he was just quiet now. An odd expression was on the dwarfs face, looking halfway between annoyed and worried; which was once again strange.
"Thorin? Are you okay?" She asked, worried now that something bad must have happened last night that he wasn't telling anyone.
"It's nothing." He once again said, his tone taking a softer note and it did nothing but worry her more but she let the subject drop for the moment as Bilbo came back down the slope.
"How close is the pack?" Thorin asked.
"Too close, a couple of yards, no more and that's not the worse of it." Bilbo panted after coming to a stop in the middle of group. "The wargs picked up our scent?" Dwalin asked.
"Not yet but they will. We have another problem though." Bilbo shook his head.
"Did they see you?" Gandalf asked. "No, that's not the problem." Bilbo breathed, a bit frustrated.
"What did I tell you? Quiet as a mouse, excellent burglar material." Gandalf laughed, the dwarves joining in until Bilbo cuts in.
"Will you just listen! I'm trying to tell you there's something else out there." Bilbo growled, gaining the attention of the company.
"What form did it take? Like a bear?" Gandalf suddenly questioned, his expression solemn compared to before.
"Y-yes but bigger, much bigger." Bilbo caught himself, surprised that Gandalf had known about the creature. "You knew about this beast?" Bofur exclaimed.
Gandalf turned, confirming their suspicion.
"I say we double back." Bofur quickly reasoned.
"And be run down by a pack of orcs." Thorin growled, followed by mixed responses from the company until Gandalf chimed in.
"There is a house not far from here where we might be able to take refuge."
"And who's house? Are they friend or foe?" Thorin asked skeptically.
"Neither, he will help us or he will kill us." Gandalf pursed his lips, obviously not liking their choices at the moment.
"What choice do we have?" Thorin asked, a sudden roar breaking through the air, leaving no head unturned.
"None." Gandalf breathed.
With that the company quickly moves, not wasting time in racing down what was left of the Misty Mountains. Not long after they cross a river, cold water soaking their legs as they run across vast clearing of tall grass and towards a small bundle of forest.
"Hurry!" Gandalf called.
Lian's torso was killing her, burning like acid was running down her back with needles jabbing into her sides. Adrenaline being the only thing keeping her going past the pain as they grow closer and closer to their destination. She was half tempted to just flop over and have whatever was chasing them eat her, anything to stop this terrible pain.
They entered the forest, clambering down the sloped hillside, halfway through the small forest when another loud roar sounded, causing them all to pause momentarily. "This way! Quickly!" Gandalf bellowed and Bombur looked frozen in fear as he's hauled along through the forest, quickly taking the lead as they enter another clearing.
There stood a house surrounded by a thick cover of trees, almost like an island among the field of tall grass; tall moss covered walls surrounding it in a barrier of stone.
They reached the gap between the wall, racing past several tiny looking houses with bees contained inside until several of the dwarves slam into the large doors leading inside the biggest house, trying to knock it down.
Lian turned, eyes widening when a gigantic bear burst through the tree line, bounding heavily towards them. "Gandalf! It's coming!" She yelled, panic creeping into her voice as she quickly changed her mind about letting it eat her. So basically, aw heeeell no.
Thorin shoved through the frantic group until he reached the front, reaching up to unlatch the door and cause them all to swarm inside. Lian stumbled inside, falling onto her arse a little farther inside the house than the others; the jostle making her nearly scream in pain as fire shot up her back and deep into torso.
Gandalf and Balin make it inside last before they attempt to close the door, the bear slamming into the doors to wedge its snout through the crack as it struggles to mow them all down. It roared, pushing against the door as dwarves yell out under the strain and fear of being torn to bits.
Lian grunted, pulling her axe out in case the bear managed to make its way in but with another roar, it was forced behind the door; latch falling quickly to bar the heavy wood down.
The company let out a sigh, relaxing now that the danger was gone for the moment and finally having the time to ask what everyone was wondering. "What is that?" Ori panted.
"That is our host." Gandalf answered, gaining unbelieving looks from the company. "His name is Beorn and he's a Skin-Changer." Gandalf explained.
"Sometimes he's a great black bear and other times he's a man. The bear is unpredictable but the man can be reasoned with, however he's not very fond of dwarves."
"He's leaving." Ori whispered.
"Get away from there, it's not natural, none of it is. It's obvious he's under some dark spell." Dori hissed, pulling Ori away from the door and farther inside.
"Don't be a fool; he's under no enchantment but his own." Gandalf corrected the dwarf.
"Now get some sleep, all of you. You'll be safe here for the night." The wizard assured, taking his hat off to rest on a table.
Lian grunted, leaning into a firm wooden post while she clutched her ribs; she was beginning to become greatly annoyed with her injury, it felt like she was a burden, not able to fight or even hardly keep up.
"Are you alright, Lian?" Ori asked, kneeling down to her level with a concerned look. "I'm fine, nothing time won't heal." She let out a rather shaky laugh, patting Ori's shoulder fondly.
"I think it would be better to have me look at you, lass." Oin insisted, crouching down with his bag. "Thorin told me to keep an eye on you. I know those broken ribs are quite the trouble." He reasoned.
"I'd say. Feels like my whole torso is on fire." She grunted, feeling Oin gently rub a salve across the purple ribs and her bruised back. She no longer wore her chest plates considering they were beyond use, bent in and split from the impact; so it was easy for Oin to reach her bare skin.
"That should do for now, get some rest and I'll apply some more medicine tomorrow." Oin told her before making himself comfortable upon the floor, not wasting time in getting some sleep.
Lian let out a deep sigh, leaning back and tilting her head up to see a bull munching on hay beside her. What kind of man was their host exactly?
She doesn't dwell on the thought much as slumber took hold of her with no protest from her aching muscles and bones, taking sleep whenever it was offered.
Lian's eyes fluttered open at the soft opening of the door; wood brushing against the dusting of hay that coated the floor. She looked up, expecting to see one of the dwarves or Gandalf but instead was a man, a very tall man who looked almost wild with his scruffy eyebrows and beard. He truly seemed like someone to be cautious around.
The man looked down at her, eyes soft but holding a cold edge to them as they bored down into hers.
"Are ya Beorn?" She asked, sleep coating her tongue thickly.
"Yes and I'm assuming you are one of the people who trespassed upon my land." His voice was deep, far deeper than anyone she'd ever met. It held a menacing note to it and she didn't know if she should have been weary of the man or not.
"Facing a giant bear wins over a pack of orc's any day." She laughed but not for long as she tried to sit up straight with a loud grunt of pain.
"Why is a human woman traveling with dwarves? Injured at that." He asked.
"Yer guess is as good as mine though I haven't always been injured ya know, I just happen to be in this state upon our meeting." She breathed, finding it a bit more difficult to stand than usual.
Suddenly big hands grabbed her forearms, lifting her up like she was a doll and placing her to her feet easily. "Let us both hope that this injury is the only thing that troubles you upon your travels." He turned, taking slow steps to what seemed to be the kitchen area. "Come, I will feed you and your companions."
Lian was a bit confused by his statement but then she remembered that Gandalf had said he was not fond of dwarves so maybe he found them to be untrustworthy companions. She took a set upon the rather large stool, the table far higher than the norm as it reached barely under her breast.
She finally took the time to look around the rather large house, more like a barn if she was completely honest though.
Stables lined the walls with animals occupying them, horses, cows, bulls, sheep, you name it. Not to mention the ceilings where high, Beorn made them look so short when he had to duck his head to even move around. Lian wasn't that tall period but damn did he make her look like a hobbit; she can only imagine how the dwarves felt or Bilbo.
Beorn brought forth honey, bread and a large pitcher of milk as more dwarves awoke, joining her at the table to eat; Bilbo being the last to join them as Beorn poured them pints of milk, the taste far richer than any she had ever tasted.
"So you are the one they call Oakenshield? Tell me, why is Azog the Defiler hunting you?" He questioned, glancing towards Thorin; who was leaning against one of the rather thick wooden posts.
"You know of Azog? How?" Thorin asked.
"My people were the first to live in the mountains before the orcs came down from the north, the Defiler killed many of my family while he kept some enslaved. Not for work, you must understand but for sport." Beorn said.
Lian noticed the broken shackle upon his wrist. "Caging Skin-Changers and torturing them amused him." His lips come together tovpress into a bleak line at this.
"So there are others like you?" Bilbo asked.
"Once there were many, but now there is only one." He answered, making the dwarves shift awkwardly. "You need to reach the mountain before the last day of autumn?" He questioned Gandalf.
"Before Durin's day falls." He hummed.
"You're running out of time, it is not far away." He reasoned.
"Which is why we must travel through Mirkwood." Gandalf sighed.
"An evil lies upon the forest, vile things creeping beneath the trees. There is an alliance between the orc of Moria and the Necromancer in Dol Gudor, I would not go through there unless in great need." He warned.
"We will take the Elven road, their path is still safe." Gandalf assured.
"Safe? The Wood Elves of Mirkwood are different from their kin. They're less wise and more dangerous…but it matters not." Beorn looked to Thorin; who had turned at this.
"What do you mean?" He asked slowly.
"These lands are crawling with orcs, growing in number; you would be a fool to think you'd reach the forest alive on foot."
Beorn stood, looming over them all as he slowly walked towards Thorin. "I don't like dwarves. They're greedy and think nothing of the lives they deem lesser than their own." He picked up a white mouse that had been scurrying upon the table at this.
"But orcs I hate more. What do you need?" A breath of relief seemed to come from the company at this. Thirteen dwarves, one wizard, a hobbit and an injured human? Still didn't seem to put the odds in their favor somehow.
"Horses, food and maybe a few extra supplies." Gandalf smiled.
"I will need at least two days to gather these things, I'd advise you stay within my walls until then." Beorn turned, taking his leave from the company to go about his daily chores and prepare their things.
Beorn stopped though before the door. "Woman, come, I will tend to your wounds. Your winces of pain are far too disturbing." Lian stood, a bit awkward for being called out in front of the group but followed the large man none the less.
Once more she sat with her back bare to a man, if it was not for strictly medical reasons she would feel like somewhat of a whore. Only the women tended to her wounds back home and she had much rather preferred it that way.
"This is most challenging. The lower ribs have been broken cleanly but never set back in place, this is what causes you such great pain." He examined, rummaging through some glass bottles on a shelf.
He had led her out to the back of the house, entering a small shed lined with shelves and a small desk in the corner. Dried herbs and plants lined the windows and ceiling, nearly hitting the tall Skin-Changer in the face as he guided her to a small table in the middle of the shed.
"How are you supposed to snap a rib back into place?" She asked, she can't imagine how to do it considering it wasn't like an arm or leg. With those you could simply just reach around the bone and put it back, ribs; not so easy.
"Like this." With that he quickly pressed a vile smelling bottle to her lips, forcing her to down the thick substance. He pulled the bottle away and she gagged, trying to hold pack the vomit threatening to rise in her throat.
"What was that foul-" She's suddenly cut off by her own gasp, searing pain ripped through her and she quickly lifted her shirt to see the bone shifting visibly under her flesh.
A sickening snap sounded, followed by another as bone moved back into place, nausea rolling through the pits of her stomach at the feeling. With quick staggers she jumped off the table, opening the shed door to vomit right by the steps; her stomach violently heaving as it ups her food.
Finally she leaned against the doorway, sweat adoring her skin with a fine sheen while she panted, black dots dancing across her vision. What the hell had he given her? She felt like she was about to faint or something as her skin changed from hot to cold over and over again.
"What was that?" She asked weakly, Beorn now shutting the door behind her as he stood on the steps to her left. "An elixir that mends broken bones, useful but the after effects aren't the best." He walked past her, taking his leave rather quickly to continue with his work.
"After effects?" She croaked.
Lian sat upon the steps for a few more minutes, letting the midday sun bathe upon her until her stomach had calmed to a quiet nag in her belly. Her ribs still hurt but the feeling only blended into the rest of the aches throughout her body unlike before.
She stood, stumbling a bit as she felt her head grow light and she steadied herself upon the shed, slowly stumbling to the house, feeling rather dizzy and dazed. She didn't even feel pain when she stumbled into the doors of the house, hitting her forehead rather harshly.
Clumsily she opened the door to see the rest of the company chattering but it felt more like yelling to her ears and she groaned loudly. "Stop yelling!" She almost slurred out.
"Lian?" Bilbo asked, puzzled by her suddenly burst of yelling.
"What's wrong with the lass? She looks like she's about to tip right over." Bofur raised an eyebrow as she stumbled in, leaning heavily against a wooden post.
"Damn dwarves are too loud!" She yelled, pointing an unsteady finger at the company, the fifteen members tripling in her wavering eye sight. "I'll tip…ya over." With that she collapsed.
Damn Lian, always lifting her shirt to the lads. *cough*slut*cough*ಠ_ಠ