Okay so I have to apologize for taking so long to write. I have been very busy and I feel terrible for not getting these chapters out as fast as my first one. I'm trying, I promise! :) Here's one to hold you over until the better ones are started. Thank you!
And always review!
Not too long in the day, we were able to leave Bree. The lovely dress shop owner gave me more than I had thought. There was a knap sack full of traveling clothes and with Kili's extra gifts it was also complete with toiletries, though it was barely much to get excited over. He purchased a bristled hair brush and some nice soap for when they would be stopping along the way. Not much more than that sadly. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't ungrateful, I just wasn't used to being so unclean for long periods of time...and with this trip and time period, it looked as though I would be pretty dirty from here on out.
The company had been rather nice to me since we had left Bree. Apparently killing someone in front of them was a way of getting respect...or something like that. I should have known. Even Dwalin nodded at me with some new form of admiration. It was so weird. Thorin made sure to place me in the middle of the company for safety reasons, which I didn't mind, but he made me feel less than adequate for this quest...
Who am I kidding? I am less than adequate for something as insane as this. I knew what was going to happen and yet I kept going. If I really was dead and this was some form of punishment then it was one funny way of doing it because I would keep going until I died again, if only to end his miserable trek.
Seriously, we have been riding almost half a day. The day before had not been so bad, but now that I was mentally exhausted and worn out, it was starting to drain me.
Kili had once again asked if I would ride with him and once again I agreed. He was more than thrilled to talk about my little mishap in Bree. Continuously asking me how I felt and what was going through my mind...it was starting to wear me down.
"Kili for the last time, I barely had time to think! I just saw someone come at me with something sharp. What do you think I was going to do? Just stand there and let them kill me? I think not." I said running a hand over my face. Normally I was nice to him, but irritability was starting to show it's ugly face.
"Of course Emma, I knew you wouldn't let anyone hurt you, but the way you moved...well you just had to have something on your mind! Not to mention you said you barely had training with a sword and the way you just stepped forward and.."
"Kili! Leave the poor girl alone! She's had enough of your silly excitement. Can't you see she's tired?" Fili finally said something. I could tell by how tense he was riding next to us that he was even getting annoyed by his brothers constant poking.
Kili seemed to heed elder brother's words and sighed. "Sorry Miss Emma. I was just excited for you..."
"Excited that I took another persons life? I do not find that something to be proud of..." The idea had made me think back to when I had killed Oliver...the look on his face when I finally looked at the work I had done. Nothing could have prepared me for something like that.
Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder. I almost fell off the horse, but was held in place by Fili who had been the cause of taking me out of my thoughts.
"Try not to take it so hard Miss Emma. We all have taken lives here...save for the hobbit. We don't do it because we want to, we do it because we have to. We know you didn't want to take his life, but if you didn't the shop keep or yourself would have died in his place and I for one am glad that it was him instead of you..." His final confession caused a blush to accompany his soft smile.
Fili words had me staring at him, probably looking liking a dolt, but they made sense to me. If I had not taken the life of that man or Oliver's...then I would not be here...even still I couldn't be certain if I was alive to begin with, but it did put me at ease.
I tried to smile as best I could and put my hand on his. "Thank you Fili. It's a nice sentiment." Was all I could say.
Fili quickly withdrew his hand from my shoulder and effectively out from under my hand. "You are more than welcome My Lady." With a quick clearing of his throat and a gentle kick from his heel, he was moving his pony a few feet further from Kili and myself.
How odd. I was more than confused. Fili acted so strangely around me it was almost scary sometimes. Maybe it was the whole thing about him being next in line for he title of King under the Mountain...
"My brother, ever the regal one." Kili said with a chuckle.
"Does he always act like that?" I asked Kili while still watching Fili's retreating back.
Kili glanced back at me with a smirk. "I don't think I've seen Fili run from a pretty face ever in my life..but you are a special case I would imagine."
"Special?" He better not be saying what I think he's saying. "Does he think I'm daft? Is that why he walks around eggshells around me?"
The expression on Kili's face went from that ever loving smirk to a sad frown. He quickly turned forward so I could not see it.
"Emma it is probably due to our first meeting. What happened to you before...maybe he is trying to respect your space. Durin knows you need it." Kili was obviously defending his brothers strange behavior.
I sighed and leaned my head against Kili's back. "I suppose you're right...I must seem like a pitiful mess to you all."
"Nonsense Miss Emma. You always look delightful. " A voice next to us had me spinning my head only to see Bilbo smiling at me. He was the one to take care of me when I first arrived and I knew for sure that he would be the one to be there in the end.
I smiled at him and hoped it showed how grateful I was for the little pick-me-up, even though I knew it wasn't true. I probably looked at terrible as I felt.
"Thank you Bilbo, once again your kindness has done wonders to my depressing state." I teased and sat a bit straighter.
"It's my pleasure to make you smile. Such a pretty face shouldn't have a frown upon it."
"Mr. Baggins, are you trying to court the 'delightful' Emma here?" Kili butted in with a smirk across his face once more.
"W-what!? N-n-no! I am doing no such thing! She is but a friend is all and I was trying to-" Bilbo was blushing like a school girl. It was too adorable, I actually laughed at his expression.
Kili cut him off with a hand up. " 'Tis alright Master Baggins, it's understandable why you would find yourself enamored with her. Many would find such a creature to be..." Kili trailed off, looking back to the front of the company as they began to slow down.
I blinked curiously and nudged him. "To be what?"
Kili looked over his shoulder, of course he was smirking. "Hm? What were we talking about? I thought- Ow! Damn Emma, you're turning into a saucy wench." He found himself rubbing the back of his head after the good knocking I gave him. He deserved it...
"Call me a wench again and I'll do more than give you a good whack on the head."
"I'll take whatever you give me, lass." Kili kicked his pony causing it to jolt forward a bit to keep up with the rest.
The next few hours were longer the longest I had ever had to endure. Kili kept me company, as did Bilbo when he felt like chiming in, but what really kept me entertained was the beauty of the countryside. The open view that was set before me was astounding. Rivers ran freely, forests grew without worry of being cut down by the acres for paper products, the landscape was free of towering buildings, and the air was the cleanest I had breathed.
It wasn't until darkness was on the horizon when Thorin finally gave the word to stop. Thank goodness for that. The moment I swung my legs off the pony and hit the ground, my legs gave out and Kili had to carry me over to a rock to sit down.
"Relax, lass. Let us take care of this." Kili told me as he set me down gently.
I sighed and hit one of my numb legs. It had been several years since I actually rode a horse, but I should have been used to it regardless...it was the ponies. It had to be, they were so tiny...but then again, I felt pretty small...an adjustment I would have to get used to.
I gave up and sat against the hard rock wall behind me. Thorin was smart to pick a spot next to a cliff, though it left little for escape in my opinion. The dwarves around me hustled and bustled to get a small camp set up for the company. Bilbo was frantically trying to help as best he could, but it didn't take long for Dwalin to nicely suggest that he help Bombur with the meals.
I was attempting to try and stand when a heavy hand pushed me back down and the grey wizard was sitting beside me with a pipe in his mouth.
"Dear Emma, I do hope you are not trying to go against the wishes of a dwarf. They can be very demanding so I suggest you stay seated until this is all over." Gandalf took a few careful puffs before throwing a wink in my direction.
With a huff I crossed my arms and leaned back. "I feel so useless."
Gandalf only smirked and watched the camp being set up around us. "We both know you are not."
"Ah yes, how forgetful of me. I'm such a useful 'seer'." I said with an eye roll.
"What you may or may not know could possibly help our company greatly. I should know more of this shortly."
I had to look at him for a moment. He obviously had somewhat believed my story when I first told him, so what other confirmation did he need? Oh wait. Lord Elrond. I forgot he led them to rivendell.
"Do you think he may know more of this little predicament?" The surprise on Gandalf's face was priceless, but it was only brief and was quickly covered by a wry smirk.
"So you know, do you? You are indeed proving to have the knowledge you claim. That is more than useful, my dear."
"Yes, but it will be more than difficult to prove that to the rest of this lot. They think of me more as a accidental killer than a seer." I sighed and tried not to let this whole thing get to me.
"You are capable of a great many things Emma, whether you choose to do them is entirely up to you." It was a strange thing for him to just come out and say all of a sudden, but after a good look at the relaxing wizard who only stared into the fading light, I smiled and took the words in stride.
It took very little time for the company to put together a fairly reasonable camp. I had no complaints. Bombur and Bilbo had created a very warm stew, which was delicious by the way, and once all the dishes were cleaned up, we were sent to bed.
Literally, I was sent to bed.
Thorin was the one to quick suddenly stand up and tell his two nephews they had first watch. I was hardly tired, but when I stood to join the two men by the fire to keep them company, Thorin stepped in front of me and quickly sent me packing to my bedroll.
The words 'you've had a long day' and ' too much for a woman to handle all at once' was in his little speech. I could have punched him. No, scratch that, I could have tried to punch him, but I'm sure my ass would have ended up on the ground. So instead sighed and stomped to me spot. It was close to the fire, thank god, so that I could at least stay warm.
The night wore on incredibly slowly. I had woken up every twenty minutes breathing hard and sitting up with cold sweats. Each time my hand was on my chest from the tightening feeling that had overcome me. Every one around me seemed to be asleep, the two brother's of course had jumped each time I was startled awake. The first few times they had been quite concerned, but after that I told them to leave me be...because well, there was nothing anyone could do.
So here I was now. Just...laying there. My eyes were closed, but I couldn't get to sleep. I had accepted the fact that I may never get a good night's sleep ever again. Not after all that had been going on. Every time I tried I just dreamed of what had happened to me. It was the most recent events in the dress shop that were the cause this time.
Oh and did I mention Bombur's snoring? No? Well that was the second reason why I couldn't sleep. He was loud as fuck. There was no sleeping when you were around that dwarf.
Someone else must have thought the same thing too because I heard a loud sigh and someone get up. When I cracked an eye open I saw Bilbo retreating back. He made his way to the horses and was out of view for only a few seconds, only because of my awkward position on the ground.
I closed my eyes with a sigh of my own before there was an awful screeching in the distance. It was the most disturbing and terrifying noise I had ever heard.
"What was that?" I heard Bilbo ask nervously.
The next words had me sitting up rather quickly. "Orcs." Kili replied, looking all too serious.
I snapped my head around to look at him, but he only kept his eyes on Bilbo. Fili, on the other hand slowly got up when he noticed the uneasy look I must have had on my face. With his pipe in hand he stalked over to me carefully and sat against the wall, his reassuring smile set me at ease only a little...and I will admit that I scooted closer if only to feel a little safer.
"Orcs?" Bilbo hurriedly skipped over toward us. He was obviously not too thrilled about the idea of orcs being out there as well.
Bilbo must have said it a bit loudly because the half sleeping Thorin jolted awake and looked around. I had turned to catch the worried look in his face and he his hand when to his sword when he noticed how nervous I was. The fear in my eyes probably made him believe there was actually one around here.
"Throat-cutters. There'll be dozens of them out there." Fili voice made me once again spin my head to look at the brothers. "The lone-lands are crawling with them."
Now they were just being cruel. We were safe, I knew that, they knew that, but Bilbo didn't. Fili looked at me when he was about to say something else, but the moment he caught my narrowed eyes he snapped his mouth shut and shifted uncomfortably. That however didn't stop Kili from opening his big fat mouth and scaring the hell out of Bilbo and myself some more.
"They strike in the wee small hours when everyone's asleep. Quick and quiet, no screams. Just lots of blood."
Bilbo was obviously very scared by now and looked back out into the distance, most likely hoping none would be popping out at them any time soon. Once his back was turned to us, Kili glanced over to Fili and smirked before they both gave a small chuckle.
Fili was unlucky enough to be in my reach because I hit him in the arm. He rubbed his arm and opened his mouth to say something, but Thorin spoke first.
"You think that's funny?" His low voice caught us all by surprise. Regardless of me knowing ahead of time that it would be coming, his voice still made me jump. Thorin was standing and eying his nephews angrily. "You think a night raid by Orcs is a joke?"
"We didn't mean anything by it." Poor Kili. He really did look sorry. Neither of the brothers would make eye contact with their imposing uncle. They both look devastated.
"No, you didn't. You know nothing of the world." thorin's harsh words trailed behind him as he walked from the camp.
I had shifted slightly to face the brother's, not giving Thorin's fading figure a second glance. Kili and Fili were a little scourged by the whole thing. Who could blame them? They were obviously here to prove something to the other dwarves, especially their uncle, who probably didn't want them to come along to begin with.
I felt so bad for them. I knew what it was like to be a disappointment. My father had always talked down to me. It was hard being the only girl in our prestigious family. He expected me to be a perfect child from the start, and for the most part I was, but when he didn't like something I did, he would quickly burn me with his words of disapproval. Thorin was much more gentle than my father...but it was still hard to watch.
I just wanted to do what my mother had done. She had held me while I cried out in frustration. She would give me words of encouragement...but that only lasted so long before even she expected more. They loved me, yes...but it was hard to get it out of them sometimes.
The closest to me was Fili, so I did the first thing I could think of. I grabbed his hand as gently as I could. To say the gesture startled him would be an understatement. He nearly jumped from his spot. When his surprised face met mine, I could only smile assuredly and hope it would help ease the busted ego he may have had.
What I didn't expect was for his face to turn completely red and the pipe in his hand to drop to the ground. His eyes were wide with some emotion I couldn't place and a rather uneasy feeling came over me. One that had me snatching my hand away in an instant.
"I'm sorry...I was just trying to.." I had my hands securely in my lap as I stared down at them. I felt a bit embarrassed for trying to comfort the strong warrior dwarf and get such a strange reaction from him.
He seemed to snap out of whatever trance he was in and his features softened. "No, lass. Don't apologize...I shouldn't have-"
"Don't mind him, laddie." Balin had came over to the fire. "Thorin has more cause than most to hate orcs."
Fili looked from Balin to his uncle with concern and curiosity in his eyes. Kili was still a bit miffed from the ego deflation, but listen none-the-less.
I knew what was coming. This story was one I had read about several times.
"After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain, King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient Dwarf kingdom of Moria. But our enemy had got there first. Moria had been taken by legions of orcs led by the most vile of all their race..."
"Azog the Defiler..." My mouth had a mind of it's own because I had not realized I had said anything until Balin looked at me.
"You know of this?" Balin questioned.
I blinked and looked to the others. Their eyes were on me. Even Gandalf looked up from his pipe to peer over at me with curiosity.
"I...We are speaking of the Battle of Azanulbizar are we not?"
"You surprise me, lass. Most so young know little of it..."Balin took a few careful steps around the fire toward me.
"Heh, well..I am a seer after all remember?" Balin eyed me for a moment before Kili brought him out back to the story.
"What happened?" Kili apparently liked war stories...as I would assume more dwarves did.
Balin cleared his throat and continued with the story. "Ah yes. The giant Gundabad orc had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin. He began by beheading the king."
It was a most uncomfortable thing to hear. How Thorin's grandfather had been killed like that in front of Thorin must have been difficult to handle. I inched closer to listen more intently. The way Balin told the story brought it to life and effectively caught mu up-most attention. I did however find myself closer to Fili because of it and I had been aware of the fact that he leaned toward me as he listened, in some strange attempt to comfort my discomfort.
"Thrain, Thorin's father, was driven mad by grief. He went missing. Taken prisoner or killed, we did not know. We were leaderless. Defeat and death were upon us. That is when I saw him."
Balin's face was that of pride as he looked over at Thorin who stood quietly away from the group.
"A young dwarf prince facing down the pale orc. He stood alone against this terrible foe. His armor rent, wielding nothing but an oaken branch as a shield."
The story was so intense it had indeed woken most from their half sleeping state to listen in as well. I had heard the shuffling or blankets and bodies. Some knew the story well, others, much like the young brothers, were only hearing it for the first time.
"Azog the Defiler learned that day that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken. Our forces rallied and drove the orcs back. And our enemy had been defeated. But there was no feast..." The anguish in the older dwarf's face was readable. "..Nor song that night, for our dead were beyond the count of grief. We few had survived. And I thought to myself then, there is one who I could follow."
The words that began to pour out of his mouth had everyone standing up slowly. All of their eyes were to the King that had no kingdom.
"There is one I could call king." His final words brought the dwarves slowly stepping toward Thorin who was more than likely listening to the story as well.
When Thorin turned around, he spotted the dwarves who had woken from their slumber. They stood with their gaze to their seemingly fearless leader with awe.
He only regarded them for a brief second before walking through them toward the fire.
Bilbo spoke next, asking a question only three of us knew the true answer to. "And the pale orc? What happened to him?"
Thorin was the one to answer. His voice full of venom when he spoke about that vile creature. "He slunk back into the hole whence he came. That filth died of his wounds long ago."
The group had grown quiet and some looked down to remember the story and it's devastating blow to the Durin line. As I looked around at them I felt an overwhelming sense to hug each and every one of them. Instead I stood slowly, getting the attention of Fili and Kili and spoke over to Thorin.
"I will take the rest of the night's watch."
The company looked over at me like I had grass growing out of my ears. Thorin especially looked bewildered by the idea.
"Girl, you will lay down and go back to bed. I would rather have the hobbit on watch than a woman."
What the fuck?! I threw my hands on my hips and glared at the king who was glaring back just as much.
"I am offering to keep watch so that you may all get some rest. It has been a long day and you all need your strength! I am not fit enough to fight if something should happen, but a warrior that is fully rested will probably be more aware in a battle? Why must that be so difficult for you to understand?" I tried not to sound so angry, but Thorin pushed buttons I didn't even know I had.
"And what will happen when something comes at us in the middle of the night? You are not in the least bit trained to keep an eye out for danger! You are just a girl burdening this company with your weakness, regardless of your claim of being a seer!"
The anger in his eyes was not because of me, I was certain of that. It was in the moment of this story, a sore spot that must have drove him made. Before he had such soft expressions when his eyes were upon me...pity for all the wrong doing against me. I couldn't let anger take me as well.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "Do you not believe me?"
I couldn't tell what his face looked like, but the hesitation when he didn't answer made me wonder if he was just looking for someone to fight with...and when I didn't take the bait, he must have relaxed slightly.
"I..I do not know." The uncertainty was there in his voice.
"Does my word mean nothing to you my friend?" Gandalf spoke up from his spot. He didn't sound too concerned about what was going on.
"Gandalf you know I value your word above most...I just have my doubts of her ability." I had opened my eyes by then and saw Thorin pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.
Gandalf was going to defend my so called honor, but I opened my mouth first. "How long did it take for you to tell that story before you actually began to believe it?" I had turned my attention to Balin.
Balin seemed confused by my words. "I'm sorry, lass. I don't understand.."
"It was such a brave story. One that showed the subsequent fall of two great kings in the Durin line...but your story is flawed by those who know the truth." I was betting on the idea that the book and movie would have to mash in some way...God I hope I was right.
"What are you babbling on about girl?" Thorin spoke this time, obviously annoyed by what I was saying.
I turned to the King under the Mountain. "Your grandfather Thror. He did not die in battle...but I understand why you would want to paint it that way, after all, all good stories need embellishment." I was being too bold, I knew it, but the look on Thorin's face meant I was on the right track.
"Surely you must be mistaken Miss Emma..." Balin stepped forward, trying to play it off as though I was wrong.
Thorin straightened and effectively pulled himself together. "You know not what you speak of. Stay quiet lest I leave you at the next home we come upon."
He began to walk away. The others watched what was transpiring between him and myself. Now I was angry. What I was about to say next was something I didn't want to have to say...but he drove me to it.
" 'Beggars' who will not wait at the doors and enter my realm to attempt thieving will meet a similar fate.'" No matter that I almost whispered it, Thorin heard it and stepped forward with a fierce anger in his eyes.
"What did you just say?" Thorin was so close, his face leaned down to mine and his overwhelming presence engulfed me. I felt so small next to him...but in a sad attempt to meet his gaze I tipped my face up to look him in the eyes.
"Is that not the message sent to your father and yourself when Thror tried to enter Khazad-dum. Azog cut off his head and threw it out with his body...that is what sent you to war with him...revenge against your fallen grandfather and king..." My words deepened the fire in Thorin's eyes and before I could say anything else I was pinned against the rock wall and a pair of hands was wrapped around my neck.
"Thorin stop!" I heard Fili yell.
"Stop this madness!" Bofur's words were barely audible as adrenaline rushed through my ears and my air began to run out.
My vision began to blur and I felt tears run down my face. There was a struggle going on because I could feel jerking and movement, but the darkness was closing in.
Finally air rushed into my lungs as I fell to the ground in a heap. When my vision cleared enough to see I was staring down at the dirt. One hand was holding me up and the other I had at my sore throat. I gulped in as much air as I could.
Small hands grabbed my arm and a soft voice flowed into my ears.
"Miss Emma are you alright?" Bilbo was trying to help me sit up, but I was planted in place on my hand and knees.
I felt the tears spill from my face. Once again I had come so close to death, but instead of a hammer it was a person who had saved me. I don't know who it was or what exactly had transpired, but I was terrified that I had almost died...again. If that was possible at all.
"Emma my dear, can you hear me?" I felt the large hand of Gandalf touch my back as he spoke with concern.
I closed my eyes and tried to ignore them. I just wanted to wake up from this awful nightmare. Why was I in this place? Why would I be here? It had to be a dream.
"Is she alright?" Fili's voice was filled with anxiety.
"Give her room brother.." Said a just as concerned Kili.
After a few moments of silence I was able to catch my breath. My neck still throbbed with pain, but I was no longer feeling as though death was at my doorstep.
I cracked my eyes open and slowly lifted my head as I sat back on my heels. I let out a harsh cough and looked to see the worried faces of the company around me. Bilbo, Fili, and Kili were closest and looked to be in the most shock. The others were scattered in my vision about the are with glances of worry and pity...a few however had some angry features to them.
As my watery eyes wandered my surroundings I saw Thorin in the distance with Gandalf. The angered dwarf was pacing back and forth as Gandalf was speaking to him. No doubt giving him some well deserved lecture...but that wasn't good enough for me. No, this was the last time I would let any man or dwarf put their hands on me.
I stood from my disheveled position and stomped over to the wizard and dwarf king with red in my vision. Now, I heard the voices behind me telling me to come back and was well aware of a hand trying to stop me, but I was quick enough to push them out of my way and continued my descent upon the two.
Thorin was the first to see me coming. He stopped and turned toward me, not looking as angry as he had earlier. Gandalf had also turned his face to gaze at me and took a step toward me, probably sensing the danger in the situation.
Thorin's face was softer than it had been moments ago and sorrow filled his expressions...of course that didn't hinder the anger that had completely engulfed me.
"Miss Emma...I-I am most sorry for the way I acted. I shouldn't hav-" Unforunately for him, he didn't get another word in.
When my anger finally subsided ,there was an unconscious Thorin on the ground and a throbbing hand attached to my wrist.
Was I thinking? Hell no. Did I regret it? A little bit. Did he deserve it? Fuck yes!
Pain seared through my hand. "Ow, holy hell that hurt!"
As I cradled my hand I saw the company rush over to make sure their king was okay.
"Miss Emma what were you thinking?!"
I glanced up at a fairly angry looking Fili, who, until now, had never raised his voice to me. "Well I certainly wasn't thinking I would practically break my hand when I hit him!"
"This is not the time to jest. You just hit a king, lass." Oin was leaning over Thorin, who was staring to come to.
The dwarves had gathered around their fallen king while Gandalf and Bilbo stood on either side of me. My hand was still throbbing, but luckily I had a wizard on my side and with a bit of magic he made it feel a tad bit better. It had been a total of 12 minutes since I sent Thorin to the ground with a fist and I was starting to get a bit nervous.
The magnitude of what I had done had not fully hit me until I calmed down fully. Bilbo was nice enough to wrap my sore hand while Gandalf was patiently waiting the verdict of how Thorin was fairing. Oin, Gloin, and Dwalin were able to prop him up near the fire to check him.
Most of the dwarves stood around as they waited for him to wake fully...the looks I was getting made me wish I had never thrown that punch. Kili, however, found this to be funny. Every time he glanced over to me he had to stifle a laugh. Fili would glare at him and then turn his gaze over to me with an emotion I was all the more familiar with. Disappointment. I had to avert my eyes from everyone and everything...except my feet...at least they didn't glare at me.
"He's awake." Balin had made his way over to us from across the camp with a worried expression.
I looked up from my feet and saw Thorin standing above the others in confusion. When his eyes locked onto me, I tried to run...but unfortunately a rather amused wizard grabbed my arm and stopped me from my promising escape. I sent him a glare when he smirked down at me. God this wizard had a terrible sense of humor. Here I was about to be dwarf chow and all he could do was smirk about it.
My anger towards the wizard was short lived when I heard the heavy footsteps of an equally angry dwarf heading strait for me. I turned my head to see Thorin bounding over to me with the fiercest scowl I had ever seen on any person.
I was scared out of my wits. There was no saving me from his scorn. It was all over. I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed to whatever god was listening that this would be over quickly. I would have pissed myself if I had anything in my bladder.
I waited for the blow. Waited for some form of pain. I had hit a very angry dwarf king and fully expected to be put to death for doing so. What would keep Thorin from doing so? Nothing. He didn't even want me on this journey to begin with. He didn't like me...which made me a dead woman. AGAIN.
"Let me see your hand." Thorin's voice was low, but gave nothing away.
I didn't even bother opening my eyes when I lifted my sore hand. It was carefully grasped and turned over. The motion had caused a hiss of pain from my lips. The wizard had done very little to ease the pain. It wouldn't matter anyway. Apparently my punishment was to have the very hand cut off that I struck him with. Isn't that what they did in such nomadic times?
"How such a gentle hand could do so much damage is beyond me. I apologize for the way I acted. I was not prepared for the knowledge you held and when...It was a regrettable situation ...and I fully deserved your retaliation. I hope I am forgiven."
…...What the?
I opened my eyes with knitted eyebrows and probably the most confused look I had ever had on my face. I didn't speak. I couldn't. I was far to confused about the situation to even open my mouth, much less form words.
"I see you are still angry with me...very well." Thorin stepped back from my space, dropped my hand gently, and started to walk away.
Uh okay. Not dying today then? "Wait!" I took a solid step forward. Thorin turned to look at me stoically. "I-..You are forgiven. I am just confused...I expected to be punished for my actions.."
Thorin smiled lightly and crossed him arms across his chest. "Punished?" He asked as a smirk began to form on his lips. "For what? For hitting someone who attacked you first?"
"Well...not just someone. A king."
Thorin sighed and shook his head. "Dwarves are very honorable people Miss Emma. You will not be punished for doing something any normal dwarf would have done."
"So...we're square? We're even?" I hesitantly asked.
"Aye, we are." He gave me a curt nod before disappearing behind a boulder. Most likely to get some sleep I'd imagine. Who could blame him?
I was still staring where he had disappeared when a hand was brought down on my shoulder. I jumped and looked up to see Dwalin standing to my right.
"Be thankful, lass. A king does not apologize often." He then smirked and gave my shoulder a tight squeeze.
"Nor does one get hit by a woman either." Added a chuckling Bofur.
"Aye, that was one hell of a swing. I didn't think such small hands could do something like that!" Kili had materialized to my left and was snatching my bandaged hand up into his own.
"Ow you wanker that hurts!" I pulled my hand back and rubbed it.
"Oh, sorry Emma. I was just seeing the damage." Kili was grinning ear to ear. He probably thought it funny how I clocked his uncle.
The other Durin dwarf was still eying me warily from his new found spot near a tree with a pipe tucked in his lips. I paid no mind to him as the camp turned back to it's normal state. The company began to settle into their bedrolls once again and I was made to sleep near the fire where I could be watched over carefully. Bofur and Bifur were now on watch and the Durin brothers were sleeping near me. It was like they were officially told to watch over me while on this journey...it was a nice sentiment.
Kili slept firmly to my right. Not caring at all that he was too close for comfort. Fili, on the other hand, was distanced to my left. His back turned to me, his body as rigid as a board. He must have still been made. He seemed to be the more serious of the two and therefore took the punch I gave his uncle more dramatically.
I had spent most of my night staring at his back. I was tired, of course, but I was still afraid if I closed my eyes I would have another nightmare. Not something I wanted to go through at the moment.
Suddenly an arm fell onto my side. With a groan I pushed Kili's unconscious body off of my own. Damn, how did he sleep so deeply when there was a chance of danger being around the bend? It was beyond me. I sighed heavily and scooted a bit away from him in order to keep another incident like that. Didn't need some of the dwarves getting the wrong idea about me.
When my eyes went back to the sleeping Fili, he had turned his body to face me. For a few silent moments I had stared at his form. He looked less uptight and more like what he should be; Himself.
"Miss Emma, I would advice you to get some sleep. We have a long journey ahead of us." Fili still had his eyes closed, but I had not thought he was awake. It had startled me slightly.
"I would if I could." I sounded far too tired when the words escaped my mouth.
Fili eyes opened slowly to reveal piercing blue orbs...not quite as intense as his uncles. Hints of green sliced through the blue in small amounts. It was a quite a sig-
Woah. Stop there.
I shook my head and sighed heavily. "Are you mad at me?"
"Mad? I suppose I could be, yes. You did, after all, strike my uncle...but you did have good reason to do so." He sounded rather nonchalant about the matter, which made me raise an eyebrow.
"So then you are made?" I asked.
Fili smiled and turned onto his back, his eyes staring at the open sky above us. "No Emma. I am not mad. At first, I was a bit upset...more so at what might happen to you, but I knew no more harm would be done. What Thorin says is true. We are very honorable dwarves."
Relief rolled off my shoulders and I relaxed. I had thought for sure I was going to be shunned by him for the next couple days, but it would seem that once again I was wrong about these dwarves.
"Well that doesn't make my hand feel any better." The sarcasm in my statement caused a chuckle to rise from Fili's throat.
The sound brought a smile to my face. He was far better looking when he was laughing.
"Get to sleep, Emma. At least try...you'll need it." Fili was still smirking from his amusement and turned his to me when he had nothing more to say.
I did try, but what was held behind my eyelids was far more terrifying than what I had seen before. Dragons were set before me in a sea of fire and once more I was in the grips of death. What was to pass on this journey had thrown me into a darkness which I had yet to encounter.