Here's another chapter. Things will be confusing in some places, but remember, Emma is just as confused as you! lol As always, review!
My legs were on autopilot because my brain was somewhere else. I was trying to remember what had happened, but it was a blur. How did I speak a whole different language and not even know about it?
Seriously Emma? You died and showed up in Middle Earth on a journey to a fictional place. Why should this surprise you?
I stopped at my thoughts and put a firm hand against on of the stone trolls to keep myself up. Was I right? Maybe this was just another sick joke for who ever was running this show. As I stood there I could hear the voices of Thorin and Gandalf just beyond my site.
"Nasty business. Still, they're all in one piece.." Gandalf said.
"No thanks to your burglar." Thorin never gave Bilbo a break.
"Miss Emma and Bilbo had the nous to play for time. None of the rest of you thought of that. Without their quick wit, you might be breakfast by now." Gandalf retorted.
"The girl..." Thorin said in a hushed voice.
"I do not know what to make of it...There are many things we do not know about her...but you must trust me when I say I feel no darkness from her. She is just lost...and very alone in this world, Thorin."
"I can not say that eases my worries, but I will trust your belief...as I should have before this disaster happened."
There was silence for a moment before Gandalf spoke loudly. "Miss Emma, I do believe you wanted to speak to me."
Busted.
I stepped out from behind the troll and looked up to Gandalf and Thorin. Gandalf was merely smiling while Thorin gave me an unsure gaze.
"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to ease drop.." I really did feel bad about it.
" 'Tis all right, Emma. Now, tell me what you make of it..." Gandalf asked softly as he took a step toward me, effectively blocking Thorin out of my view.
"Make of it? Gandalf I have had so many strange and unusual things happen to me lately...I can't even begin to understand what is going on."
"Understandable. Come.." He glanced over his shoulder to Thorin, who was standing there waiting..as though Gandalf was going to continue a conversation with him.
"Shouldn't we go find that troll cave?" I asked. Things had been going so wrong, I just had to push them in the right directions. Hopefully that would get things back on track.
"Cave? Thorin heard that part and perked up. "That's right.." He turned to scan the area then was off to round the rest of the company up for a scouting mission to find the cave. At least that's what he was mumbling about as he walked away.
Gandalf and myself stood there watching as he spoke to the company about the search. I let out a sobering sigh and welcomed the cool air that came with a dancing breeze. I closed my eyes and tried to inhaled as much of the clean air as I could...which ended up with my choking on it because the stench of trolls still lingered.
"Foul creatures are they not?" Gandalf was in deep thought when I turned to look at him. "They must have come down from the Ettenmoors."
"We both know there is something wrong Gandalf. Not many creatures could scare a troll enough to come this far south." I wasn't wrong. I knew what was making them come this far. It was obvious...to me at least.
"Indeed. It has been an age since I have seen them so close...not since a darker power ruled these lands..." Gandalf sounded nervous about it. We shared a looked before I nodded.
"You are a wise wizard Gandalf...your suspicions are not wrong." I rubbed my eye as I spoke. Boy was I exhausted. None of us had got any sleep last night...actually if I recall, I was at least able to get an hour in, but that did little to help the exhaustion that was creeping up on me.
Gandalf was not sure what to say. He just stared at me for a few moments and looked like he wanted to ask something, but Fili walked up to us, therefore ending what ever private discussion I was having with the grey wizard.
"Miss Emma, would you be so kind as to accompany my brother and myself..." Fili said standing as straight as he could. Why was he trying so hard to look so proud? It was so very strange.
Gandalf cleared his throat, gave me a wink of departure, and stalked his way over to Bilbo who was trying to tighten his belt at the moment.
I gave the wizard a shake of my head and brought my attention to the blonde dwarf. "Are you already lonely, my dear Fili, or are you genuinely worried about my safety so much so that you need me by your side at all times?" I tried to keep things light by poking a bit of fun at him.
The plan had worked. Fili relaxed and gave me a wondrous smirk. A shiver ran up my spine the moment his white teeth peered from behind his perfect lips...Whoa! Wait, Stop. No more of that.
"I won't lie to ya, lass. Keeping you close would ease my mind a bit...and your company is what keeps Kili and myself from becoming too bored. We do enjoy having you around."
I gave him a cheeky grin. He was a very interesting man when he wasn't trying to act all regal or too serious. It was quite refreshing.
"I think I shall keep that as a compliment. Lead on, Master Dwarf."
"No, lass. After you...I'd rather have you in my sights." Fili's attitude drastically turned into the serious one. I sighed. Of course.
I waved my hand in dismissal and passed by him to find Kili. It took little effort to find the youngest and most rambunctious dwarf. He was idly waiting for Fili and myself to come into view. The moment he laid his big brown eyes on me he held out an arm for me to take it.
I laughed, more nervously than I had intended, because I was glad he was still acting normal instead of being unsure around me like some of the other dwarves had. They gave me the strangest looks. Of course if I had seen me talking the way I was told, I'd be a little on edge around me as well.
With a small smile I took his arm as he escorted me with the rest of the company to locate the troll cave. Fili followed behind us closely. Every time I looked back he would give me a small smile before he went back to scanning the area with his keen eyes.
The journey to the troll cave was uneventful. Thank god for that! I was so terrified something crazy was going to happen again...How was I supposed to be a 'seer' if what was supposed to happen, didn't actually happen?! Yea that was complicated.
By the way, that troll cave was not hard to find. Took us ten, maybe fifteen minutes to find it's exact location. We just followed the smell. Yea, the smell.
It was so bad it actually hurt to breathe it in. I voted to stay out of the cave. There would be nothing in there I would want. Not even gold could drag me in there. Luckily for me, Kili and Fili opted out as well.
Those who did not go within the dark, damp, and most disgusting cave stayed close to the entrance. Fili, Kili, and myself were leaning against the cool stone. Bilbo sat nearby on a large rock. He looked so tired as he sat there deep in thought.
I looked away from him and stared into the forest that surrounded us. Kili and Fili were in a conversation, one that I cared little to be involved with. They were both mischievous when put together.
The forest began to blur as I closed my eyes to rest up. Everyone was exhausted, me especially. However, the longer I had my eyes closed, the more I could have swore I heard that voice again...that voice that belonged to a man...the one in my dream. Why did that name sound so familiar? Aule was someone I definitely knew about...only because he created the dwarves, but the other...
'You can not deny me...I will find you.'
I snapped my eyes opened and looked around quickly. I saw someone this time. In the darkness of the trees, moving in the shadows. I took off after it, not caring that I was unarmed. Safety was not on my mind.
"Emma where are you going?!" I heard Fili yell after me as I sprinted into the woods.
The voices of the dwarves calling after me faded as I ran after the shadowed figure. I barely felt the brush and scrape of branches and twigs hitting my face. I had to catch them.
I lost sight of the darkness and slowed my pace as I tried to catch another glimpse of it. My feet stopped just within a small clearing. The sunlight fell upon the center of the clearing. It's brightness was a beacon of hope I suppose. When I stepped into it, the feeling that overwhelmed me was calm and...well I wasn't sure how I felt.
The light hit my face in a cascade of radiance. A sudden shift beneath my feet caused me to look down. At first glance there was nothing, but then a small vine began to come up from under some fallen leaves and slowly wrap around my ankle. It wasn't tight or threatening...but warm and embracing.
What was this? I knelt down to touch the vine and remove it from my leg when another voice caught my attention.
"It is you..." A feminine voice said.
I gasped and looked up between a pair of trees where a woman stood. Her pale skin glowed lightly as though it was made from the moon itself. Her long chocolate hair flowed freely around her waist. The silken dress she wore was thin and light green in color.
Why do I feel like I know her?
The trees next to her began to sprout flowers and vines around their trunks. I slowly stood up and looked at the woman who smiled so warmly at me.
"I do not know how you have returned...but I have missed you, my child." The woman stepped closer to me, her bare feet touched the ground lightly and with every step there were flowers springing from the ground it spectacular colors.
She reached out to touch my face. Her slender fingers barely grazed my cheek when a sudden crashing through the woods had me turning my head to the noise.
"Something's coming!" I heard a dwarf call out in the distance.
I sighed in relief. It was only Radagast. No need to panic just yet. I brought my eyes back to the place where the woman had been...but she was gone. All that was there were the flowers she left in her wake.
The crashing sound through the woods stopped. I could only assume that they had found the brown wizard. It was stupid of me to just run off like that. I didn't even know what I was chasing.
"I should find them.." I took one last look at where the woman was and head towards the sound of chattering dwarves, which fortunately wasn't too far away.
I took my time through the forest. It had been long since I had been in these woods...I blinked and stopped in my tracks. Why had I just said that? With a quick shake of my head I continued on my way. Hopefully I would get to them before the chaos started.
THIRD PERSON POV
"I saw him, Gandalf. From out of the darkness...a Necromancer has come." Radagast continued the story with much disdain.
It frightened the brown wizard that something so dark could return to these lands. It poisoned the lands and destroyed life in the Greenwood.
He flinched as he thought back to what had happened. His eyes shooting from one side to the other. He then looked at Gandalf.
"Sorry.."
"Try a little Old Toby. It'll help settle your nerves." Gandalf cleaned off his pipe with his beard and let Radagast take a puff from it.
The brown wizard relaxed almost instantly as he let out the smoke he had inhaled.
"Now, a Necromancer. Are you sure?" Gandalf asked his strange fellow Istari.
Radagast reached into his coat and pulled out something wrapped in a leather sheet. It's shape was that of a sword. One that Gandalf feared once he unbound the top from it's dark steel. Gandalf looked at Radagast with a nervous frown.
"That is not from the world of the living." Radagast's words held truth. It certainly was not. Gandalf had known that the moment he laid his blue eyes upon it.
Being careful he placed it into his cloak and looked back up to the brown wizard. He opened his mouth to ask a question, but then his eyes fell over the brown wizards shoulder.
Radagast looked behind him to see a young woman come out of the forest near the dwarves, who immediately began to scold her for running off so quickly without an escort.
They both looked upon her while Fili grabbed her and threw her into his arms in a tight embrace. His worry for the girl was apparent by all around him.
Radagast gazed at the girl with a look that screamed surprise and shock. "Gandalf...is that? It can't be. 'Tis not possible..."
"It is her, Radagast." Gandalf confirmed his suspicions.
"I must see her." Radagast went to take a step forward when Gandalf put a gentle hand on his shoulder to stop him.
"She does not remember..."
Radagast looked back to the grey wizard with confusion. "What do you mean? How can she not remember?"
"This is not the same Emi we know, Radagast. She is from someplace different...and there she is named Emma. I am not sure how it is possible, but she was brought back to us.."
"Was this the will of Eru? Would he be so bold as to bring back one from the dead?" The phrase had them both looking at each other. They had just finished speaking about a Necromancer and now there was living proof in front of them that someone could be brought back from the dead.
"We will not tell her right away...she has only small things that she can recall, but the life she had in the other world is what she knows now."
"Gandalf.."
"I knew it was her the moment I laid eyes on her, but there was no way I could get through to her...we'd need someone who can get into her mind."
"I see." Radagast gave a nod and began walking toward the dwarves.
"Careful Radagast." Gandalf warned as he followed him.
EMMA POV
I had just got the scolding of my life. Every dwarf in the area had pretty much chewed my head off for running away like that. Even Thorin came over and proceeded to raise his voice at me. He disapproved of my lack of safety.
That part I had seen coming. What I didn't see coming was Fili squeezing the life out of me...which of course was followed by a good talking to. When it was all over, I stood waiting for the wizards to stop speaking.
"Have there been there long?"
"Aye, they have. They've been talking for quite some time." Kili said with a sigh as he leaned against a tree.
"What do you think they are talking about?" Bofur piped up from his perched position on top of a high rock.
"Probably wizard things I'd guess." Fili said as he stroked his beard.
I looked sideways at him. "Thank you for your most insightful opinion."
Fili only smirked as I turned back to the wizards in the distance...who were now staring at me as they spoke. That wasn't embarrassing at all. I'm sure Gandalf was just telling him about my predicament. Maybe they would find a way to send me home or wake me up from this nightmare.
"Here they come." Observed Bofur. He was right, they were heading straight this way.
Radagast was looking at me with the strangest expression with Gandalf watching warily. Once the brown wizard was standing in front of me he bent down onto one knee, carefully took my hand from my side and brought it to his lips.
I watched with confusion. Why was he doing this? He face slowly pulled up to look at me. A single tear fell from his face as he smiled at me. I couldn't understand why, but I was happy to see him. I smiled back at him.
"Miss..Emma. It is an honor to meet you." His voice was warm and familiar.
"Aiwendil. How nice it is to see you." It was like I was on autopilot again. I'd had said that name before. I had seen his face so many times. I knew who he was without actually knowing.
The name must have surprised him. Radagast looked a bit shocked before he smiled brightly and stood. "You know my name?"
I raised an eyebrow. Of course I did. "Radagast the Brown, is it not?"
He let out a small chuckle and looked at me for a few more silent moments before he spoke. "I see what you mean, Gandalf. She is indeed lost."
"Oi, what are you on about?" I looked between the grey and brown wizard with irritation.
"Do not fret Miss Emma. He means nothing by it." Gandalf nervously laughed as he put a hand on the brown wizard's arm with a stern look to his old friend.
I was so confused. I didn't know why I felt so close to the wizard, or why I was seeing and feeling all these strange things. It was literally driving me crazy.
"Bit of a strange fellow, eh lass?" Fili leaned over to whisper near my ear.
"That may be an understatement." Kili added in on my other side.
Shaking my head I stepped away from them and crossed my arms. Radagast was still looking at me with some form of contentment. A small smile stayed on his lips the entire time. I gave him a vibrant smile in return and walked toward Gandalf to speak to him about the woman I had seen earlier, but when I took a step toward him, there was a howling that pierced the air.
"Was that a wolf? Are there wolves out there?" Biblo asked nervously. Quite funny how he can stand up to trolls, but wolves scared the piss out of him.
Oh wait. Not ordinary wolves. Damn.
"Wolves? That is no wolf." Bofur said as he scanned the forest with his blue eyes, his weapon at the ready.
Just like it was supposed to happen, a large warg came down from behind a hill...only difference was there was an orc upon it's back. I let out a scream as they both came barreling down the hill and leaped for me.
A pair of strong hands grabbed me around the waist and pulled me out of the way just in time. When I was pushed against a rock I was covered by a body with blonde hair. I knew immediately that it had been Fili who had saved me. I blocked me from what was going on and hid me against a rock wall well enough to keep me out of danger, but what I was hearing was a battle that should not be happening. I saw several wargs and warg riders attacking the company.
Why was this happening? Once again things were not going as it should have. We should be running by now. Radagast should have led them off.
"Emma get down!" I was sure it was Kili who called out to me, but I did as I was told and ducked down.
Fili and Kili were both in front of me holding off a rather large warg that was snapping at the both of them with huge canines. The warg rider on top saw me hiding. We made eye contact...the world slowed as it glared at me with intent. It's long jagged sword raised above it's head and it stood from the warg and jumped over the brother's to get to me.
"Come here, girl." It spoke out of it's horrifyingly deformed mouth.
I backed up as it landed on solid ground. No one would be able to stop it. They were all preoccupied with their own fight. It surged forward and I held my breath, closed my eyes, and prayed it would be over quickly.
"Aule, save me.." I had no idea what I said that, but it was exactly the words that popped into my head.
As I prayed for a quick second death, something warm formed into my chest. The warmth sizzled into a heated fire and I opened my eyes. Time had completely stilled. In front of me was that same orc with its sword coming down onto my head.
I gaped at the sight in front of me and cautiously looked about my surroundings. Okay, this was some crazy shit right here. I'm dead right? I'd have to be.
"Do not let them take you. Run." The voice I had just heard made my heart skip a beat. This was someone I trusted. Someone I held with the highest of respect. That was the feeling that had overcome me...and then it was fear. I knew he was right. If I didn't run, they would take me...but why?
I had no time to think more into it. Movement was beginning again and I could see the sword that was once still was heading at me at a slow pace.
So I got myself up and ran. The moment my feet started to pick up the dirt beneath me, I could hear the sounds of battle ensuing behind me.
Running was the only weapon I had.
THIRD PERSON POV
One second she was there, right in his sights, the next; she was gone. The orc's confusion was visible on his face. Just then he heard the sound of feet snapping a few twigs just to his left and he turned to see the same girl running from the battle. He had no idea how she got there, but he had to catch her.
A sudden yell caught the orcs attention and he was quickly overcome by two of the dwarves. Fili and Kili came down on the orc with unified force. The angry orc was able to fend them off just enough to call out to one of his warg riders.
"Retrieve the female. We'll take care of the dwarf-scum!" The orc said in a rough language.
His fellow orc nodded and jumped over a few dwarves to get out of the battle. The orc and its warg weaved between the trees to follow the girl.
The orc that gave the order was swiftly dispatched of by the young Durin brothers. After the orc was dead, they looked around with fear and concern in their faces.
"Where is Emma?" Fili asked anxiously.
"She was here only moments ago. Where could she have- Over there!" Kili pointed towards the retreating backside of a warg and its rider taking off into the forest.
"She's too far away for us to get to her! Thorin!" Fili turned to yell for his uncle for assistance. Without help, Emma would be a goner.
Thorin thrust his new sword into the gut of the last orc and looked quickly to his older nephew. The look on their faces told him something was wrong. When he saw Kili pointing into the forest he knew it could only be the girl.
"Damn her!" The company was still running on pure adrenaline from the fight, most with their weapons still poised in their firm grips.
"Emma! We must get to her!" Gandalf said with urgency as he stood next to Radagast who had fought just as valiantly, which surprised everyone, including himself.
The company didn't need to be told twice. She was part of this company now, regardless of her strange behavior, and they would go to hell and back to protect one of their own...for the most part. With a loud cry, they took off into the woods after the warg and rider that was on the tail of their only female companion.
One dwarf, in particular, was worried if that warg got her her before they caught up...he would never see her again. That was the only thing he feared and it made him run as fast as his body would allow him.
EMMA POV
Running was not my strongest suit, but at that very moment, it felt like I would be able to outrun a cheetah...or maybe just a warg who probably wanted nothing more than to rip my face off.
I looked behind me when I passed a small clearing, knowing that I wouldn't trip on any roots or rocks, and saw that the warg was much closer than I had thought. It snapped at my face and I quickly made a tight turn to the left while ducking to avoid its razor sharp teeth.
The move had the warg sliding to a stop to turn. It almost fell over with the rider, but they were able to correct themselves and continue their chase.
"Fuck!" I swore at how easily they were able to keep up, but I should have known I would be outrun. An animal against a person? No question who the winner was. Especially when I was the person doing the running.
When I turned to look where I was going I had to push a branch out of my face. If it had been a bit higher I probably would have smacked myself and fallen...and Aule only know what would happen then.
There was that damn name again. Why did I keep saying it? Aule. Why is that so familiar? Growling brought me out of my thoughts as I remembered the oversized wolf barreling through the forest after me.
I needed a way out of this. I needed a good plan. I needed a fucking gun. Okay, that one was out of the question. A sword? Oh god no. I'd most likely cut myself.
The warg was gaining ground again and once more I could feel it right behind me. This was it. It would be all over in seconds.
Then I saw it. A root that was sticking up out of the ground in an arch that would be small enough for me to duck under. Maybe it would knock the warg out, or at least give me some more time to run.
As I came to I slide down and under it. A move I had no idea I could do physically. I surprise myself every day. Once on the other side I crawled back just in time to avoid a set of teeth once more. The strategy had worked!
It worked much better than I had thought. The warg was actually stuck under the large root. I gave a loud victory cheer...and then I remembered the orc that was riding it. The orc jumped off the warg and drew out a blade that looked like it was made of bones.
It came at me with as much fury as a bull. Enraged and on a mission, it jumped into the air and landed on top of me. I screamed and kicked at it as it tried to pull at me. Why it had not run me through, I had no idea.
"Stop moving girl! You'll come with me or the master will have my head." It growled at me as it pulled me up to stand.
I knew it had spoke a strange language, but I understood it completely. I was in too much shock to put up a better fight and without much effort it was able to throw me over its uncomfortably armored shoulders.
"Let me go you bastard!" I screamed as I tired to wiggle off the beast. My excessive struggle must have pissed him off as the orc tried to lumber off with me. The orc threw me onto the ground and put a blade to my throat.
"Be still or I'll be forced to only bring him a head!" It spoke again in that disgusting language.
Before I could think, my body was moving. My hand clenched and with a hard, rough swing I knocked the orc over onto the ground next to me. It landed with a grunt.
What the...someone please explain what the hell is going on.
I looked at my hand and then to the orc who was starting to get up. The look on his face told me I was in trouble. Lots of trouble. He growled and started at me. Luckily I was fast and small enough to get out of his grip. I crawled a few feet away and stood up quickly. Unfortunately the orc was up on his fet and heading toward me. The moment I turned I saw the sword coming at me.
I closed me eyes and put a hand up to block. Though I was sure it would take my arm and head off in the process.
Once again, my body moved on its own accord. When I felt a small pain on my hand I opened my eyes to see that I actually grabbed the blade.
Why the hell did I just do that!?
There was a hot sensation in my chest again and the only thing I could think about was survival. I had to survive. This time my brain and body were cooperating. When the orc tried to pull the sword away, I kicked him hard in the chest, releasing his grip on the hilt in the process. The sword was now in my hand.
The orc looked at me. I looked at him. I don't believe he thought I was capable of such things...and I had to agree with him. The shock on both our faces vouched for that.
But then his face hardened and he came at me, thinking to knock me over most likely. I was quick enough to spin the sword in my hand and hold it by the hilt.
What happened next was as quick as a blink. I swung the sword with ease and took his head off clean. When the head fell to the ground along with the now convulsing body, I dropped the sword as though it was a hot pan I had just grabbed.
"How in the world..." Something inside me told me I was very capable of this...but what I already knew about myself told me that it was impossible. I was able to handle a sword as well as I could handle a pencil.
I felt a warm substance on my fingers and brought my hand up to examine it. I had indeed cut my hand on the blade, but the wound was minor compared to what I had thought it would be. That sword should have took my hand off...but here it was.
"Emi.." I turned my head to see the company had come upon the sight. They were standing there ready to fight, but were shocked to see me standing above a dead orc. Gandalf and Radagast, being taller than the rest, had their eyes firmly on me in concern. It was Radagst who had called for me.
But Emi was not my name. Was it? No it was Emma. Radagast stepped through the dwarves to my side. I looked up at him with confusion and fear. I was afraid. What was going on?
"Aiwendil? Why is this happening?" Why did I keep calling him that?
Radagast looked down at me with a smile and then turned to Gandalf, who only shook his head. It was a silent conversation, but it left Radagast with a frown of disappointment.
"Lass, how did you do this?" Gloin walked up to look at the headless orc. "These are skilled riders..."
"I...I don't know." I was so frustrated with all this strange information I was trying to process.
"You're wounded, lass. Let me have a look." Oin put away his weapon and came over, gently grabbing my hand to examine the wound.
"It's nothing..." I said as I began to feel dizzy. Not from the wound, but from this anxiety that was overcoming me.
"Nonsense. Any wound could fester. We must take care of it, lass." Oin was not taking no for any answer. I sighed and resigned myself to his medical care.
I looked over to the company and saw them relaxing for the moment. The battle must have been quicker than I thought for them to come to me so quickly. I met the eye of Kili who nodded to me with a small smirk. He seemed happy to see I was alive, but my eyes wandered over to his blonde brother, I almost shrunk back. He was staring at me with such intensity it gave me shivers. He was not happy about how I had run off like that...not when he was so keen on protecting me. How was he to do such a thing if I just run off like that?
When this was over, he was going to give me a lecture I really didn't want to hear. I just knew it. I looked away when Oin was done wrapping up my hand with a bit of salve on my wound.
"Thank you Master Dwarf." I smiled warmly at the older dwarf. He returned my smile and patted my shoulder before he got up and walked back over to the resting company.
I cautiously walked over to Kili, trying to make no eye contact with Fili...just in case, and he gave me a brilliant smile when he saw me. With little grace, he picked me up into his arms and twirled me around.
"Kili, you git, put me down before I hurl." I laughed as I pushed against his arms.
He did as I asked and set me down carefully. Kili brought me into his arms for a firm hug and sighed. "I am glad you are safe, Miss Emma."
"She would have been safe to begin with if she had stayed put." Fili spoke up behind me.
I sighed and turned within Kili's arms to glare at the scowling Fili. "I would have been killed."
"Did we not just have a discussion about you running off like that? I told you to stay by Kili and myself or you would get into trouble." Fili ignored all sensibility and instead let his anger take over.
I narrowed my eyes and stepped closer to him with my hands on my hips. "Obviously I was able to take care of the problem on my own."
"Barely! How can I- I mean, How can Kili and I protect you if you are constantly trying to do things alone?" He was obviously steamed.
"Oi, lovebirds, keep it down. We're trying to relax here." Nori called out with a chuckling Bofur beside him.
Fili and myself looked at them and noticed we had drawn an audience from the rest of the company. How embarrassing. I blushed and cleared my throat. When I glanced up to Fili he was looking just as embarrassed as myself. He side glanced to me and then gave me a curt nod. What it meant, I had no idea, but then he was walking away from me and heading over to Thorin.
I sighed and turned back to Kili, who only had a large smirk on his face. He was enjoying the show more than he should have.
"What?" I snapped at him.
"You two argue as though you were married." I almost punched him.
"I'd have to be blind, deaf, and stupid to marry an ass like that." Kili barked out a laugh and put an arm around my shoulder.
"You're already stupid. Should we work on the blind and deaf part?" I rolled my eyes at his antics and let out a small giggle.
Kili always knew laughter made me feel better. If I was going to marry anyone, and that was a huge IF, then it would be him...but men were not on my agenda. Not after all I had been through. Fuck that.
Kili was leading me over to a rock so that I could sit when I took a glance over my shoulder where Kili's hand was resting. Across the way I saw Fili staring at us with a frown. I narrowed my eyes at him and he subsequently turned away with a sneer.
God that man was hot and cold. Oh, but he wasn't just a man. He was a dwarf. A stubborn, annoying, rude dwarf...who constantly had to protect me. I liked him better when he was just regal and shy. Bah!
I had just sat down when we all heard another howl.
Cheese and crackers.
"There are more of them?" Dori said with annoyance.
"Who did you tell about your quest beyond you kin?" Gandalf asked as he walked up to Thorin.
"No one." Thorin said as he looked up at the angry Gandalf.
"Who did you tell!?" Gandalf was really pissed.
"No one, I swear!" Thorin said sternly. I believed him. "What in Durin's name is going on."
" We're being hunted...isn't that obvious?" I said from my spot on the rock. I was rather tired and now I was annoyed that we would be running...but I was more annoyed that I had forgotten all about it.
Gandalf gave a nod in agreement.
"We have to get out of here." Dwalin said with urgency. He was not looking forward to fighting more of them.
"We can't. We have no ponies! They bolted." Ori and Bifur had come out of the top of a hill. Thorin had sent them off during our brief break to fetch the ponies and the rest of their belongings...but it seems that the orc pack scared them off.
Everyone's faces fell at that moment. If there were more wargs then it could mean they only caught a scouting party, which meant it was only a fraction of a orc pack.
"I'll draw them off." Radagast announced bravely.
"These are Gundabad Wargs. They will outrun you." Gandalf tried to put a bit of sense into Radagast.
"These are Rhosgobel rabbits. I'd like to see them try." Radagast retorted with pride.
Gandalf looked at him for a silent moment before he nodded. "Very well old friend, but do be careful."
Radagast smiled and whistled for his rabbits that had been hiding with the sled. They came trampling out of the forest and stopped just short of the company. The brown wizard turned and made his way towards me. I raised an eyebrow and stood slowly.
"Emi." he leaned down just then and brought me into a hug. I let out a small gasp, but settled into his arms and allowed it to happen. Though...I was confused. Again.
"You are as lovely as your mother..." He whispered into my hair. "Do not forget who you are...for someone as great as you should remember all that you've done."
He gave me no time to answer or question what the hell he was going on about. He released me and made way to his rabbits. He jumped onto his sled and let out a shout. That was it. He was gone. Disappearing into the forest toward the sound of howling.
"We must move. Now." Gandalf said as he used to staff to head off in the opposite direction.
The company grabbed their belongings and followed him with great haste. Kili grabbed my hand and started to drag me away with them. I kept up as best I could as we began to flee into open land. The forest was behind us and the open landscape left us vulnerable if we should be seen.
Kili let go of my hand to let me run with them at my speed, but his hand was replaced with someone else grabbing onto my arm. I gasped and looked over to see Fili holding my arm. I rolled my eyes and pulled my arm form his grip.
We were then stopped suddenly behind a large boulder and he grabbed onto my arm again. I tried to yank it free, but he held tightly. I turned and glared at him.
"Will you release me." I whispered loudly.
Suddenly howling and growling was right behind the boulder. I heard Radagast yelling something as he led the orc pack near our location. In my startled state I had grabbed onto the only thing closest to me. Fili. Of course he smirked and held onto my arms as I pressed into his chest. When the sound began to fade, Gandalf peeked behind the rock.
"Come on." That was all it took for the company to be moving.
I ripped myself from Fili and glared at him. "That never happened." And then I was following the rest as we made a run for safety.
When I looked over at him again, he had the biggest grin on his face.