Chapter Seventeen: Imkez-Cute
She watched with bated breath as her beast turned tail and leapt into the darkness, she could hear faintly over the roaring of wind and the pounding of blood in her ears the yelps of her comrades. Narâ snorted a small smirk pulling up her lip as she leaned against the slick cold mountain stone. The rains were relentless driving tiny drops of water into her chilled skin like hundreds of stinging bees. She raised a hand to shield her eyes as the first of the company arrived. Khimâ let out a loud huff as his paws slipped against the wet rock, long black claws digging in to find purchase he righted himself, shifting his massive shoulders against the weight of his new rider. Narâ raised a brow at her companion, surprised to find not Thorin but Dwalin the first to merge the canon atop her Warg. She nodded in greeting, holding back a chuckle as the bald Dwarrow fitted her with an intense glare, his knuckles were fisted deep into the long White fur of Khimâ, his normally ruddy flushed cheeks were pale as the dead. Watching him dismount with a thud as his boots hit the ground, she couldn't hold back her chuckle "enjoyed yerself did ya Master Dwalin?" she cooed leaving her resting spot to approach her Warg, giving him a gentle pat she flicked her head back toward the shadowing mount past. Khimâ yipped giving her cheek a tongue trashing before turning and disappearing once again. Dwalin frowned "Donn'a ever make me ride a blasted Warg again" he growled running a hand through his soaked beard "Aint natural" he muttered rolling his eyes at the musical laughter of the dam. Narâ sniffed quieting her laugh "Come now Dwalin, surely you weren't just scared". He spun to face her and shook his head vigorously "Pft as if I were scared, I've never been scared in all me life" he ground out, puffing up his chest as if it would prove his point. She nodded rolling her eyes "As you say" turning her head to watch Khimâ return with not one Dwarrow but two, Kili and Fili both looked delighted, a huge smile plastered on the youngers face as he practically bounced off her mount to rush to her "That was amazing Nar" he smiled completely oblivious to the rain and the wind, his hair plastered to his face and across his cheek. She snickered brushing his dark locks from his face "I'm glad ye enjoyed it lad". She gave his cheek a motherly pat and turned to Fili "And you lad, you a'right?" she asked with a chuckle as he gave her a toothy grin elbowing his brother lightly "Ki you never told me how amazing it was riding a Warg" he sighed roughing up his brother's hair. Kili shot him a sour look running his hands down his water drenched head. "A'right enough chitty chatty, come now lads lets move off this ledge for that beast knocks us over the edge" Dwalin grunted grabbing for Fili's arm to pull him along. Narâ just sighed shaking out her long plaits, as if it would relieve the heavy weight of them across her back.
She waited for all the others to make it across safely frowning as Dori dismounted in a yelp letting himself slide down the flank of Khimâ, muttering to himself and holding his cloak around his person. She approached him doing a mental check of everyone frowning, they were short a hobbit "Where is Bilbo?" she called out over the howl of the wind, her eyes scanning the faces of the crowd. Dori shivered and gave her a sour face "He wouldn't come across" he hissed over his shoulder as he inspected his youngest brother Ori, who looked red in the face with embarrassment at his pestering. Narâ groaned "What'da mean he wouldn't come" she said looking out toward the open darkness. It was getting far to late on in the day for this kind of travel, and the storm wasn't helping in the least. Her eyes while better than most races were not so keen as an elf that she could make out Bilbo in the semi darkness. She held a hand up to her mouth and shrieked "Master Baggins" Khimâ recoiled at the sound, ears pulled back as his Master shouted. She strained her ears to listen for his call, but couldn't hear anything except the pounding of her own heart in her ears. This path was deadly even for a dwarf, but especially so for an untrained green hobbit from the shire, he would slip and fall to his death before he knew what was happening. She clicked her tongue and Khimâ pawed over to her, ears pulled back tight against his skull, a low whine in his throat. If her Warg could sense something was wrong she needed to get her hobbit and fast, she pulled herself up with a grunt, her palms slipping on the thick wet fur of his shoulders, her strength waning for a moment as the bite of her wounds made her hiss, she had nearly forgotten the kiss of mountain stone embedded in her flesh. She let out a shuddering breath and kicked her heel in, letting Khimâ guide them over the edge. The air rushed up to meet them, tousling her long locks and cloak alike, as her stomach leapt into her throat. The thrill and sheer wonder as they sailed through the air together always left her breathless. Khimâ's paws found purchase his muscles coiling beneath her, wound tight as he sprung again and again, until landing with a thump and a splattering of water at the other side of the ravine. She let out a breath with a smile, giving her mount a loving pat on the head, her fingers digging through the thick white fur to the soft undercoat. Khimâ gave an appreciative groan of delight, his long tail wagging slightly at the loving touch of his Master. Narâ rolled her tired shoulders looking over his head for Bilbo, she could see him huddled down miserably as the rained assaulted his thin burgundy coat, his normally bouncing curls soaked through, she snickered at the sight he looked like a half drowned cat. "If you are quiet finished Mistress Dwarf" Bilbo scowled watching at the dam smiled at him, her eyes crinkled at the edges they sparkled like gems in the night. "Come now Bilbo" she chuckled lowering her hand in offering. Bilbo shook his head enthusiastically "No..no" he stuttered "I'll find my own way across" he said weakly and she frowned a hardness flashing across her eyes "Listen ta me Mr. Bilbo" she said gone her jovial smooth tone "You best get on this Warg now, aint no time to be afraid, these mountains kill ya before you even know it and it'd be damned it I let one o my party be killed on my watch" she grunted letting herself down from the warg she approached kneeling before him, her long white wolfen cloak and skirt decorated with flecks of brown and suspicious looking crimson. Bilbo pulled his coat further over the top of his head and chewed his lip "Narâ I can't" he said softly wishing she would just understand, he wasn't like her, he wasn't brave and strong, he could barely ride a horse let alone a wolf like hers. She gave him a gentle smile, and softened her tone "With me Mr. Baggins" she said holding out her hand as she stood tall hauling him to his feet "I promise ya won't fall, and I wont leave you behind". He swallowed hard watching the determination on her face stern but soft, much nicer than any of the Dwarrow would have been. He let out a sigh and nodded as she held his hand firmly pulling him up along with her onto the back of Khimâ. "Udin" Narâ laughed as Khimâ gave a happy bark, propelling them off the side of the ravine. Bilbo wasn't sure what he expected, but it certainly wasn't the freefalling death that the dam in front of him seemed to delight in. He clamped his hand around her middle grabbing on for dear life. The wind blew back friercly against him, stinging his eyes, he yelped as the Warg propelled them forward, his paws smashing against the ground and springing off again, he nearly lost his hold on the dam, slipping on the slick wet fur he felt the scream in his throat as he tumbled backward. Arms flailing for purchase he grabbed onto anything that would hold him upright and save him from certain death. A fistful of dark ebony locks saved him from falling but ended up in a high-pitched yelp from Narâ, louder and higher than he had ever heard from her mouth. Narâ was glad to have landed on solid ground, she let the others help Bilbo down, allowing her to take deep calming breath, closing her eyes she let the cold rain pelt her pounding head, her scalp felt raw like her hair had come off the back of her head. She was glad it was so long and thick like a rope that tethered Bilbo to her but Mahal above did it ever hurt. She opened her eyes to see Thorin watching her with a frown on his face as he approached, reaching up to give her a hand his blue eyes thunderclouds. She slipped her bloodied palm into his hand and grunted as she was pulled down, her footing poor as she landed nearly pulling him down with her. She could feel his hand flex against her own as he stood steady as a mountain "You alright" he asked somberly, and she snorted righting herself properly with a nod. "Sure, let's move" she ground out, eager to find a spot to rest. Thorin frowned watching her huff out a breath and push forward, using the mountain as some sort of makeshift wall she leaned against it rubbing her hand along as she went. A small slick of blood followed in her wake before the ruthless rain washed it away. Bilbo pulled his coat around his frame to preserve his body heat, ducking his head to move around Thorin who looked about as angry as the sky above their heads, thunderclouds stormed in his eyes as he watched the dam move away. Bilbo swallowed following closely behind Bofur who was flanked by his brother Bifur, letting the two larger bodies shield him from Thorin and his ever watchful eye, his poor heart couldn't take more freight this day, he just wanted some food in his belly and his bedroll and perhaps a fire to dry his clothing before he froze to death.
Another hour or so of painstaking walking, climbing and cussing and Narâ with the help of Khimâ found a small, secluded cave. She let out a triumphant breath as the cave mouth came into sight, nestled deep within the rock marked by runes only she and her clansmen would understand, it was a safe haven on the road of the dead. She turned looking over her shoulder at her companions "Ibast-march Lads" she cheered pointing ahead of herself "Theres o cave up ahead, c'mon then" she called rushing up ahead, Khimâ running alongside her, his long pink tongue lolled out of his maw as he practically pranced ahead of her. She snorted, blasted Warg and his blasted speed. She stopped at the cavemouth running her fingers over the smoothed carved stone that served as a marker for her people. It would be considered a crudely carved thing if not for her dwarvish sight. To her a wolfen head, edged in silver in the style typical dwarven writing. "What is it?" Bilbo asked curiously as he stopped to watch the dam inspecting the strange carving. She smiled closing her fist and giving the rock a good thump "Ik-Kund Ukhrab" she said turning to give the hobbit a watery smile. "The Wolf Rider" Balin said with a smile gesturing to the dam, she nodded ushering everyone inside. "So, this be one of yer caves then?" Dwalin grunted pulling off a soaked boot watching a small stream pour from the inside. Narâ snorted rolling her eyes "Certainly Master Dwalin, since I be the owner of the mountainside this is my cave" she rolled her eyes pounding a fist against her chest. Dwalin grunted pulling off his other boot "Not what I meant lass". She sighed sitting down with a hiss beside Bilbo and Balin "Aye I know" she said pinching her eyes shut as her movements made her head pound. "You okay Narâ" Bilbo asked softly looking at the dam as she wrung out her long dark hair a pinched look on her face. She opened an eye and shoved her shoulder into him lightly "Oh aye lad, fine heads smarts something awful but I'm fine" she snickered as he blushed crimson. Thorin narrowed his eyes at the pair, the familiarity with the hobbit and the dam made him clench a fist and brood "What happened to your head?" he grunted as he shoved his soaked coat off his shoulders. Narâ sighed running her fingertips through her hair over the tender flesh of her head, kneading it softly with a laugh "Seems yer arm is stronger than it looks Master Baggins" she grunted a smile playing on her lips as Bilbo stuttered embarrassed "I didn't..didn't mean to pull your hair" he mumbled. Kili snorted from across them "You did what" he said looking at the Dam twist water out of her heavy plaits. Bilbo blushed deeper red "I was going to fall off the Warg and I panicked and grabbed for something to hold on to" he said hunching his shoulders. "You touched her hair" Thorin grumbled crossing his arms over his wide chest. Narâ laughed, the sound echoing through the little cave "Ah don't look so glum laddie, I like hair pullin as much as the next dam" she snickered winking as the hobbit blushed a deeper red as she leaned closer to him her eyes sparkling with mirth "But I must say next time buy me an ale first" she winked as he coughed and shook his head at her implication. A booming laugh sounded out all around her as the lads laughed and Bilbo groaned in embarrassment. Narâ couldn't help herself it was so easy to rile the hobbit and it felt good to laugh especially after their miserable trek through the mountains thus far. She tilted her head to the side and pretended to get a better look at the poor little fellow "Make it two" she giggled covering her mouth with her hand as Bilbo shot his head up and made a strange strangled sound in the back of his throat, his little pointed ears nearly as red as his coat. "Na..Narâ that isn't funny" he said twitching his nose as the others laughed and wolf whistled at him. She sighed and pat him on the top of the head like he was a small dwarrowling. "Oh relax, yer cute but not my type" she said with a yawn cracking her neck. Bilbo winced at the sound of the snap of her joints and chewed his lip, strange these dwarves he thought to himself. Narâ looked at the faces of her companions happy her little joke made them laugh, the lads all shaking their heads at her all except Thorin who looked like he could throw up or smash a hole through the mountain stone behind him. She rolled her eyes pulling off a soaking wet boot and threw it at him. He blinked in surprise as the wet fur boot splattered across his chest, droplets of water spraying him in the face as it slumped into his lap. He raised his eyes in annoyance and connected with the green eyes of the dam. Narâ gave him a cheeky grin "Don't pout Thorin" she said pulling off the other boot, watching as he snorted and placed her boot on the ground beside him turning his head away from her. She chuckled picking up her next projectile "Wha'da just say, yer pouting" she teased ready to throw the boot. Thorin turned and looked at her with a frown on his face, she was jovial and smiling brightly at him her long dark plaits spilled over one shoulder as she leaned forward her wolf fur boot in her hand ready to throw again "Don't" he grunted and she smirked narrowing her eyes "Laugh" she demanded and he snorted at her ridiculous behavior "Laugh damn ye, its funny and you know it" she said biting her lip and he smirked at her. "Uncle doesn't laugh" Fili said from beside him and Thorin gave him a questioning look opening his mouth to speak when Kili piped up looking at Narâ with a pleading look on his face "Am I cute too" he asked. Narâ blinked and sat back lowering the boot to the cave floor and cocked her head to the side waving a hand at him "Pft course laddie yer a Durin". Kili beamed puffing himself up before his brother gave him a shove sending him sprawling on the floor "Cool yer head Ki" Fili laughed looking at the dam with a wink "that must go for me as well then". Narâ laughed and nodded "Course lad, but you and yer brother are more like babes to me, cute in the way my sons would be". Kili rolled into a sitting position and looked at her confused "You don't have sons". She let out a tired breath and nodded "Very good Master Kili, that I don't". Fili scratched at his chin "I'm not a child" he said with a pout and she snorted "I know lad, but remember I'm as old as yer amad yer what a hundred years my junior" she said shrugging a shoulder. "Enough" Thorin grunted looking past his companions to the darkness outside the cave mouth "Its almost nightfall get some rest" he said his tone of voice icy even to the dam. Narâ blinked, picking up her boot and throwing it at him as he flopped down onto his side "Shut up grumpy, yer handsome too" she giggled with an eye roll. Thorin smirked under his beard.
"Miss Narâ where are we exactly?" Ori pipped up looking at her curiously, to the surrounding small cave they were huddled in. It was small for a group this large, only wide enough to sit side by side huddled together, laying down flat would be nearly impossible with this many bodies and that of the Warg who lay down just in the cave mouth. Narâ scratched her naked chin and hummed "Well Ori" she chewed her plump lip "This cave is on the path of Mardâ-âfah, it's a treacherous stretch of the mountain side but much faster than traveling the high road" she paused pulling off her cowl "My lads use it fer shelter when the weather is harsh, the symbol on the outside lets us know its safe". Ori nodded grabbing his book to jot down notes "And the symbol outside? I've never seen it before" he said looking up at her. She shrugged pulling down and plait, taking the fine iron bead from the end and tossing it to him gently "My sigil lad" Ori caught it with a squeak and turned it over in the dim light, rubbing a thumb over the wolfen head inlaid with silver. He copied it down quickly in his book, black charcoal scraping wildly across the parchment to get it just right. Narâ held her plait pinched between her fingers and smiled with gratitude as the lad tossed it back gently. "So ye made her own sigil then" Gloin said grumping in the corner beside his brother, not happy that they had no fire for the evening. Oin was laid out beside him using his shoulder as a stiff pillow of sorts. Narâ nodded "My lads did, it was easy to remember and marked the way for our troop to follow certain mountain paths".
"Did your father not have his soldiers travel this far into the mountains" Thorin asked looking at the dam. Narâ frowned crossing her arms over her chest "Though'ya were sleepin" she let out a breath and shook her head "Nay he didn't, this far out weren't his problem, his kept our soldiers closer to home". Thorin slowly rose to a sitting position where it was nearly impossible to sleep in the cold, and the conversation kept him awake "Why did you take your troops this far in, if even your father thought it pointless" he asked curious as to how her mind worked. Narâ gave a shrug "Someone had to make sure the roads were protected, that the orcs and goblins that infest the mountain couldn't make it close to home even if they wanted too" she said honesty shining in her jade eyes.