CHAPTER 15
"I'm not a pinata! Be more careful!"
The only response I get is a chorus of laughter at my plight. With the risen sun, the trolls froze in place which left me stuck 12 feet above the ground, not to mention trapped in a sack. Now, a few of the dwarves take turns poking me with the dull end of Bifur's spear to decide who is going to crawl up and help me down.
"If you tear this bag and I end up breaking my neck, I'm going to haunt each and everyone of you!"
"Please do not worry, Miss! Master Nori is coming up." Oh great. Even though he means to set my mind at ease, Bilbo sounds skeptical himself. I've got nothing against this dwarf in particular, but I haven't really heard good things about him "Now just... Well just relax."
"And just how am I supposed to do that?"
"I... just think... think of something to take your mind off of the trolls."
"They are hardly what's worrying me."
"If yer screams from last night are anything to go by they gave ye quite the scare!" My silence alerts Bofur that maybe his attempt at humor wasn't the best way to go. He clears his throat and tries again "... T-there is nothing to be afraid of, lassie!"
"Except plummeting to my death." I can hear the hobbit squawk out a surprised sound that is quickly drowned out by more laughter. At least someone is having a good time "Don't you all have a troll hoard to plunder or something?"
"And just how would you know there is a troll hoard to be plundered?" The material by my head tears suddenly, revealing Nori's curious face. Peering in to assess the state of my cocoon, the dwarf shoos me away. Leaning as far back as I can, I wait in anticipation "Thorin only minutes ago informed a select few of us of its existence; something you could not have possibly heard from up here."
"Hm."
"Perhaps there is something true to this spy theory."
"Oh yes. Absolutely." Nodding as he saws ever so slowly through the cloth, I roll my eyes with exaggerated motions "I'm in cahoots with three trolls. They told me where their cave is and I promised them my barbecued ribs as collateral. Great skills of deduction, Watson."
"... My name is Nori."
"Someone get me down from here."
"As you wish." Yanking the loose flap free, Nori stares at me as a wide grin spreads across his face "Catch her."
"Excuse m-"
Before the sentence slips passed my lips, the bag gives out from under my weight. My limbs spread wide to grab on to something but are met only with air. Pulling them back in quickly, I try to make myself as small as possible to lessen the impact. I land surprisingly quick, caught by a firefighter-esque blanket of sorts manned by... Dwarves. Haha.
"Are you alright?!" Rushing to my side as Ori helps me off the catching cloth, Bilbo looks me over in worry "I-I-I tried to stop them but- She is a lady, not a ball to be tossed about!"
"Oh she's fine, laddie!" With a laugh the jovial dwarf whacks me on the back for emphasis as I rearrange my clothing. My already weakened stomach has been tossed upside down so many times that the whack is almost enough to send me over the edge. I don't toss my cookies but Bofur's once encouraging hands soften with concern "Are ye alright there?"
"'m fine." the others return fully dressed and gravitate towards our spot, bringing more notice to me. Snatching my shoulder out from under Bofur's grip, I glare at his concern "I said I'm fine!"
Turning to stomp away, the world turns with me. Unable to steady my feet, I brace for the fall but instead of Earth, I find gentle hands lifting me into arms. Looking up, I blanch at finding Dori's nonplussed face attached. His eyes flicker down to meet mine before he huffs out an impatient breath.
"You've been through a traumatic time."
"It's nothing I can't handle."
"So you've stated, though I disagree."
"And?"
"You do not eat. Your stomach and steps are hardly ever steady. You are pale-"
"I eat when I want. I walk how I want." Crossing my arms, I move as minimally as possible while the dwarf carries me towards the troll cave. I'm only giving in because I don't think I can walk on my own "And in case you haven't noticed, I'm a redhead. I'm notorious for always being pale and angry. Don't read into it too much."
"... Do you remember the words I gave you outside of the hobbit's home?"
"I've willingly forgotten them. I don't need chivalrous promises made only because someone has to give them."
"As I'm sure you recall," The smell of the troll hoard hits of full force, stopping the dwarf short for a second. Shorter than usual. Shaking his head, he approaches the clearing that now houses the company's belongings. Mine included funny enough. Sitting me down against an old tree, the dwarf returns to his normal height "I stated that your unhappiness or harm are not things we seek and that should you require aid while in our care it will be given."
"Within reason."
"Within reason." repeating the phrase with a nod, Dori gazes at the dwarves around us with an appraising look "Your shouts last night were... most unpleasant. We had thought the worst for you."
"It would have been better if I had died, right? Is that it?"
"Of course not, lassie!" kneeling at my side, Dori runs his fingers roughly through his hair. It musses the usually neat set up, almost bringing a quirk to my lip "It set our hearts ill at ease. Until it is decided that you are no longer in our care, you are very much our responsibility."
"Liability more like."
"Enough of that." The chastisement is given in a low order that causes my head to duck before I think about it. Scoffing, I turn my face to the side instead "Your disregard for yourself is most tiresome. That aside, none of us wish for your harm whether you are with us or someplace else. As you are with us and you are our responsibility, we are concerned for your well-being."
"... I feel like... Are you trying to have a moment with me? If I promise to try to eat and sleep and just be overall healthy will you stop? Your concern is kind of weird considering you all think I'm your enemy."
"..." if he was trying to have a moment with me, which I'm not sure if he was or wasn't, I have effectively ruined it. He closes his eyes and just sighs through his nose before blinking at me "Rest."
With that final word, I expect the prim-and-proper dwarf to turn and walk away in a huff. Thus when his hand comes forward to pat my cheek, I'm surprised for long enough to allow it. It brings back a memory, as so many things do, but this one is... It isn't so bad.
If I close my eyes, I bet I'd be able to see my father towering over me like he did the first time he introduced us to Grandpa. It was right around the time he, Papa, left. Anita had been crying earlier that day and Papa was trying everything to keep her smiling. He was never very good at telling us apart though. Or rather, he was a klutz and fumbled everything he tried, including telling his twin daughters apart. Even at that age, I understood that. I always forgave him for it though because he was my Papa.
So when he placed a large hand on my tiny cheek in a misplaced effort to console my sister, I was surprised when I was comforted as well. I can admit now that I was anxious to meet Grandpa and though I know Papa meant to help my sister, it felt good and I allowed it. I didn't correct him because... it made me feel safe. And just for a moment, I feel that now.
Immediately shaking the memory from my head, I gently brush Dori's hand away. It would be stupid of me to allow such a childish thing to bring me any joy now. My father didn't stick around long after that anyway and he didn't keep us safe either.
"I'm fine." Turning to face the empty trees again, I fold my hands over my chest in a deliberately defensive way "I don't need-" "Yes. Yes you do. You need so much, child."
Spinning my head back around, I'm too late to offer a response as the dwarf departs. There is a time and place for everything. Yelling at the back of a guy who is just finished carrying you because you're too weak to stand on your own, a still current predicament, is not currently the best course of action for right now. So I let it go. Reaching a hand up, I smooth away any parental vibes Dori might have left behind. I don't need that kind of energy in my life right now.
Knowing that we have some, but not a ton, of down time before the wargs show up, I intend to invest it wisely. Sliding down the tree trunk, I lay flat on the ground. The sun stretches over the Treetops to blind me through my eyelids. If I'm going to get any sleep, I'm going to have to face the other way. That in itself is not too bad but it would be exposing my back to the company. I don't expect them to stab me in the back, but it be my fault for being too trusting if they do... But they could have left me hanging in Bert's grasp or just let me fall and die... They don't want me dead just yet.
Nervously checking over my shoulder, I ensure that I'm moderately isolated. Most of the company is milling around the entrance of the cave; the closest person to me being Bombur but he's a good 15 feet away.
"You can do this, Atina."
Giving my back to the group slowly, I just remind myself over and over that they could easily kill me regardless of which direction I face. That thought comforts me and helps greatly. I'm asleep within minutes.
Nori POV
Upon departing the stench of the troll hoard, Thorin instructed his nephews and I to retrieve the missing ponies. We were unlucky and could only locate three. They will do us no good to ride but at least we can remove the supplies they carry. After two hours of searching, it is obvious that the rest have fled further than is practical to search for. We expected to find the king irritated at the failure but upon our return, we found the company oddly quiet. When the youngest prince chanced an inquiry, Bofur brought his fingers to his mouth quickly before pointing to the sleeping girl.
Crouching down low and moving as close as possible, I remain still for a number of long quiet moments as to be sure of her sleeping state. Her thin frame is fully cloaked in the throw blanket she stole from the burglar's home. How anything from a halfling could make a daughter of men look so small, I do not know. Yet curled in upon herself as she is, small she looks.
Though taller than us all, the wind could blow the nameless girl away unless she used her forked tongue to beat it back. It is the only thing threatening about her. Looking at her now, pale, helpless, and delicate, it is a simple thing to wonder how she obtained such a contrary personality. In clipped iglishmek I direct my questions to Bofur as I finally reach her side.
How long?
Until she wakes.
Rolling my eyes at the useless response I stare down at the girl who won't let anyone close and wonder, not for the first time, what happened the last time someone did. What caused this waif-like creature to become a flaming ball of rage and distrust? Who failed in their duty to protect her? What experiences molded her self-hatred? Breathing softly I pull myself up and away from her, lest I disturb her rest. These questions leave a bitter taste in my mouth as I already know the cruelty of this world. It destroys the weak and hardens the strong, leaving behind hollow people who can only hope to fill themselves with SOMETHING. Be it purpose, passion, or hate. I'll find no pretty answers staring at the sleeping woman and would rather not suffer her waking wrath.
Happy birthday to me!