DISCLAIMER: Let's get this out of the way. I do not own or have any hope of ever owning the characters or happenings of middle earth. They belong to Tolkien and as far as I'm concerned he can keep them. For now. I do however, own my OC, Kidhuzel! So don't steal her. Please, feel free to leave any comments and/or questions that you may have. Follow the story in which ever way you would like, but make your thoughts known but be polite while you do it. Thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~Shishi~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 7
Stopping in Bree is a splendid choice in Kidhuzel's opinion. Yes, she has to be covered from head to toe in an over-sized cloak to hide her 'eccentric qualities' as Bilbo calls them, as not to garner unwanted attention as supplies were gathered but she enjoyed it nonetheless. While the sights and sounds were not new to her, as the little creature remembers the meeting between Gandalf and Thorin took place in the man town, it is the clothes that she most enjoys. They are not of the best quality, in fact they are two steps above rags if what Nori mutters is true. It was argued that it would be a waste to spend money on any higher quality of clothing when she would simply grow out them by the next day. A true testament as she has already outgrown a pair.
When El's growth halts, Thorin decided that then and only then would she be allowed anything suited for more protection against the elements, almost jokingly asking her not to grow too quickly. Still, having something to walk in that doesn't trip her, something that isn't borrowed, something that is hers is the greatest gift the child could have asked for and she beams for the rest of the day.
That smile has completely disappeared by the third cloudy mid-afternoon of the heavy down pour. It soaks through her clothes and all but kills whatever heat El may have in her chest. 'How am I to practice a flame in THIS weather?' She snuggles under Gandalf's cloak, as she has grown big enough that he is the only member with a covering large enough to shield both himself and her. Not withstanding the fact that none of the other company members offered. The little dwarfling would have preferred to stay with Thorin but then he would see what the girl has been hiding and that is unacceptable. So instead, she settles for whining lowly against the wizard's back, who has become her reluctant but constant companion for the last couple of days.
"Here, Mr. Gandalf?" Dori shouts and El peers around her partner only to realize that they are at the front of the group. The rain continues to pour down, dissuading the girl from coming out. It reminds her too much of the many years she spent at the bottom of the frozen lake. Cold. Alone "Can't you do something about this deluge?"
"Deluuuuge." she whispers, liking how the word rolls off her thin tongue "I suppose that would be an expression for this downpour?"
"Very good, young Kidhuzel, you are quite right." Gandalf hums in absent acknowledgment of her answer, like he always does when she learns something new about the world, before addressing the original speaker "It is raining, master dwarf. And it will continue to rain until the rain is done! If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another wizard."
"Are there any?" The question is light, the tone unsure, and El knows it is Bilbo without even looking
"What?" Gandalf questions in return, shifting slightly without jarring his burden.
He knows from experience just how sharp those tiny claws can be when she is surprised. On the first day of housing her, the company had been throwing around food for lunch as they often do. Dodging a particularly low flying hunk of bread, the wizard was met with a sharp pain in his abdomen. The girl had immediately apologized for it, and being that it was barely a scratch he did not inform Thorin of the exchange. Gandalf did however, make note of the power within her claws; feeling the bite of death from them would be certain if she so chose.
"Other wizards?"
"... There are five of us." pulling himself back into the conversation, the grey pilgrim provides knowledge of his few kin "The greatest of our order is Saruman, the white. Then there are the two blue wizards... Do you know, I've quite forgotten their names."
"If there are only five, how could he forget any of their names?"
Though the question is asked in a hushed whisper, Kidhuzel still hears it, just as everyone else does. Yet they all ignore the youngest prince, as his mood has been a foul one since his spat with Kidhuzel on the cliff. He has grown temperamental and pouty, though all are sure the tantrum will pass with the weather and collectively decide to leave him to his brother. Even now, El can feel his glare on her back though she takes comfort in knowing it is nothing compared to his uncle's.
"And who is the fifth?" Bilbo prompts politely
"Well, that would be Radagast the brown."
"Is he a great wizard or is he... more like you?" A chuckle runs through the company at the little hobbit's barb; even Thorin lets out a huff of amused air
"I think he is a very great wizard... in his own way." Gandalf eyes the company warily, not rising to the bait. It is not his place to change the ways of the world on a simple whim, not that he is unable to do so. Though he suggested finding another wizard, he knows none of his brethren would change it either "He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals to others. He keeps a watchful eye over the vast forestland to the east, and a good thing too, for always evil will look to find a foothold in this world."
They trot on in silence for the rest of the afternoon, all thankful when the sun splits the sky just early enough to dry the ground for the night. Muddy ground makes for ill rest, as they have all unfortunately discovered. As evening approaches, they soon find a gently beaten path to follow and it leads to a burnt and broken house. It looks to be abandoned and if one were to look closely, they'd notice it was recently evacuated quite hastily.
The trees around it are charred and bent out of shape, possibly due to the heat of the flames. Some have blackened bark while others seemed to have snapped under their own weight. The very ground itself is baked with powdery black soot that forces the company to keep a wide birth around the damaged building or risk being covered in the ash. Surveying around the area but finding no danger, the dwarf king nods in acceptance.
"We'll camp here for the night." he spots Kidhuzel slipping off the wizard's pony and bounding her way over to him only to stop half way. Her shoulders drop and she shifts nervously from foot to foot. 'She is taller than last I remember...' Thorin shakes his head firmly, breaking his attention from her momentarily to finish his orders "Fili, Kili, look after the ponies."
"Yes Uncle." they chant, stretching from the ride before walking into the woods to set the ponies to graze
"Kidhuzel-"
"Might I go with them?" she asks suddenly, backing up when the dwarf king approaches. All notice her change in demeanor and while it is strange for her, most young people would rather the princes over the king "I... I... The young prince is still angry with me and I feel we must speak of our differences rather than dragging this out."
"Can we trust her with the lads?" Dwalin asks the king under his breath. He still doesn't know enough about her, or rather he knows just enough to deem her a threat "Somethin's off with her. More so than before."
"I don't think she'd try anything, especially with Kili already suspecting her of every crime possible. Not to mention she is not at her best." Thorin returns, eyeing her bowed head. She hasn't been sleeping by his side, or sleeping at all for that matter. For the past few days, she has avoided him much to his relief and confusion. Perhaps she is truly bothered by the argument with his nephew or perhaps she is planning something. Now is the perfect time to find out. Hopefully she will reveal something to the boys while her guard is down "Make sure you stay with them."
"Yes."
With that, the child scampers off after his nephews leaving Thorin to look after her in suspicion. 'She is hiding something.' That much is obvious but everyone is entitled to a secret or two, just so long as it does not threaten the company. Pushing away thoughts of the strangeness of dragons, the monarch finishes giving out duties, despite the wizard's grumbling.
"A farmer and his wife used to live here." he mutters
"Oin, Gloin." Thorin speaks over the sorcerer
"Aye?" surprisingly, the half deaf healer answers
"Get a fire going."
"Right you are." Being the two best at the job, the duo jump into the task easily
"I think it would be wiser to move on." with everything at a halt until the fire is made, Thorin has nothing to occupy himself with to ignore Gandalf any longer "We could make for the hidden valley."
"But I've told you already." walking into the burnt structure, Thorin inhales deeply. It still carries the heavy scent of destruction and he wonders about the former occupants before putting it from his mind "I will not go near that place."
"Why not? The elves could help us, we could get food, rest... advice."
"I do not need their advice."
"We have a map that we cannot read." This is true and Thorin nearly growls at the fact being thrown in his face. Much of dwarven history had been lost when Smaug took the mountain. The other dwarven kingdoms kept much less thorough written records, leading to the loss of much information. The languages of old being one such example "Lord Elrond could help us."
"Help? A dragon attacks Erebor. What help came from the elves? Orcs plunder Moria, desecrate our sacred halls, the elves looked on and did nothing!"
He remembers the flames and screams. He remembers desperately crying out for aid only for the elves to turn away and let destruction reign. But he has a dragon of his own now and if he willed it, the elves would pay for their transgressions. 'I could kill them all, watch them burn.' The thought crosses his mind so smoothly that he almost doesn't notice it. When he does, it worries him that he could even consider it. Anger is a powerful force but he will not let it drive him to genocide.
"You ask me to seek out the very people who betrayed my grandfather, who betrayed my father."
"You are neither of them." These words are uttered in both warning and consolation, though Thorin ignores both as the wizard hisses lowly "I did not give you that map and key for you to hold on to the past."
"I did not know they were yours to keep."
In frustration, Gandalf turns and storms off away from the sneering king. There is little he can do, short of literally dragging Thorin out of the clearing by his braids. Needing to form a plan, the wizard leaves the camp in a huff. Seeing this, Bilbo calls out to the angry male.
"Everything alright? Gandalf? Where are you going?"
"To seek the company of the only one around here who's got any sense."
"And who's that?"
"Myself, Mister Baggins!" Bilbo blinks back a frown, not at all pleased with the turn of events "I've had enough dwarves for one day."
Thorin watches the exchange with an air of annoyed disinterest. The hobbit has yet to prove himself and the flighty wizard has taken to the sky again. Shaking his head, he begins making plans to find out the extent of Kidhuzel's power. With such unreliable allies, he may have need of her sooner than he thought. A crackle followed by a cheer informs him that the fire has successfully been lit and supper preparations can begin.
"Come on, Bombur." he orders, leaning on the burnt door frame to watch the sunset over the dark trees "We're hungry."
~~~~~~~~~~Shishi~~~~~~~~~~
Hello There! I'm just going to say that I've already started working on the next chhapter so it won't be such a long wait. Send me some love via the comment box, ok? I run on love and pancakes. Thank you to my reviewers angel897, decadenceofmysoul, YMR, and ThePhantomismyLove . You guys rock like jingle bells. ~Shishi