Chapter Eight

Storytelling And Hearing Voices

Bombur and Bofur had started a fire and right at this second, Bombur was preparing our meal. I walk up to Bilbo and Hetti and without warning, I embraced them both.

"I am so glad you both are here." I grinned at both of them.

"We couldn't let you have all the fun," smiled Hetti "Right Bilbo?"

"Ask me that same question again in a few years." remarked Bilbo.

I laughed. It was good to see my family here, I would have been worried and a litle homesick if Bilbo and Hetti had not come with us.

I sit next to Bilbo, while Hetti walked of towards Bombur offering to help who I noticed smiled at her and handed out some potatoes who happily complied. As I watched the others do their business, my thoughts went back on the strange encounters with Midna and Bilbo's pony.

I knew that I should ask Gandalf about this but, I saw him look relaxed leaning against the tree with his eyes closed, smoking his pipe. No, tonight, I will leave to his own thoughts. I decided. Though I was a little spooked still.

"That is a pretty necklace you're wearing." said Bofur breaking me out of my thoughts.

"I've had this necklace since I was a little girl." I reply.

"Who gave it to you, if you don't mind me asking?" asked a very curious Bofur "Was it Bilbo?"

Bilbo shook his head.

"No, I never gave Elaina that necklace!"

"I'm not sure," I answer truthfully "It has always been around my neck."

Gandalf now had one eye open listening and watching what was happening around him.

I glance down at my necklace, looking at it, as if for the first time. The necklace was very pretty. It had just one stone which I was told was called a blue topaz. I've always loved this necklace and rarely took it off. Call it stupid, but I always thought this necklace was lucky.

"I don't understand Elaina." said Bofur, clearly looking puzzled.

"This necklace has always been around my neck," I began then sighed "Though I can take this of, I've never have. This necklace has always intrigued me."

I fail to notice the glances from Gandalf and Loki as I was talking to Bofur.

"How did you know the necklace isn't really cursed?" asked Dwalin, listening in as well.

"Just a feeling I have. I somehow know I am supposed to wear this necklace, like it was meant just for me."

"Maybe that's because it is part of you Elaina!" said Gandalf "You just need to believe in yourself more."

"I have no idea on what you mean!" I reply, catching his gaze "I think you are talking riddles again!"

Gandalf just laughed softly to himself.

I watch Kili come towards me with a craftly looking smile. This did not look good.

"Will you tell us a fairytale story now?"

I frown.

"I bet that Bilbo would come though!" I point out to Kili.

"Aye you did, but," Kili's grin spread even further "but there isn't anything to do at the moment. Please!"

I knew he would keep pestering me unless I relented. Sighing, I nod my head and thought up a story to share.

"This story is a little disturbing." I muse to Kili and the others who were all were sitting by the fire, except of course Bombur and Hetti.

"Does it have a happy ending?" asked Ori.

"For someone yes."

I heard some laughter and realised at once it was Loki. Kili sat next to me, waiting patiently.

"Once upon a time, there were two small children, whose names were Hansel and Gretal. They were living with their woodcutter father and his second wife, who was very abusive.

There was a famine going on and the father's wife decided that day to take the two children into the woods and leave them forever. She did that because she had had enough of the them eating her food as she claimed they eat to much."

"What a nice mother." scorned Balin, shaking his head.

"The father opposses the idea but finally agrees to his wife's claim. Hansel and Gretel however had heard everything and took matters in their own hands.

When everyone goes to bed, Hansel gets out of bed and sneaks out of the house and gathers white pebbles that are scattered around the ground. He then returns to his sister Gretel saying,

"These will help us to come back home."

The following morning, the whole family walk deep in the forest and Hansel discreetly drops a trail of white pebbles as they continue walking.

The parents had somehow managed to lose the two small children. Hansel and Gretel wait patiently until night time, where there is a massive moon in the sky. They follow the trail of pebbles until they reach home again. The mother was not pleased to see them but said nothing."

I noticed everyone was listening intently to what I was saying.

"The mother again watches the food, slowly diminish and she is getting angry. She orders her husband to take the children deep into the forest and this time, leave them there to die. Hansel and this time Gretel look for more white pebbles but can not find any on the ground."

"Those poor children!" said Bilbo, frowning some what.

"Indeed." I agreed.

The following day, the whole family walk into the woods once again. Hansel takes a slice of white bread and like before, leaves a trail of bread crumbs to follow back home. However there is a big problem!"

"Oh please tell us!" begged Kili, when I paused for effect.

I chuckle before continuing.

"When Hansel and Gretel realise they are alone again, they find that the birds have eaten all the bread up and they are now lost in the forest.

Many day and nights pass and they walk aimlessly in the forest. They see a beautiful white bird in a clearing in the forest and the children discover a cottage built of gingerbread and cake."

"Oh for Mahal's sake!" muttered Thorin "A cottage made out of biscuit and cake. They are clearly having a dream!"

I just smirked at him saying,

"Are they indeed?"

"The windows were made of panes of clear sugar glass."

"Oh for the-," I heard Thorin say, again I smirked at him as I continued.

Hungey and tired, Hansel and Gretel began eating the rooftop of the house."

"Like you would!" mused Dwalin, trying not to laugh, though the others were trying to contain their own laughter.

"The door suddenly opens and a very old woman walks out and lures the two children inside with the promise of soft beds and delicious food."

"Isn't the house enough?" queried Thorin.

Despite myself I laugh at that, surprised to see Thorin smile back at me.

By now, everyone was eating some stew that Bombur and Hetti had made, which wasn't that bad.

"Hansel and Gretel were very trusting, they went inside the house. unaware that the old lady was really a wicked witch who tricks children, so that she can cook and eat them up."

"Charming." said Nori.

"The next day, the wicked witch has now locked Hansel in a cage in her garden and forces Gretel to be a slave. The witch makes sure that Hansel is feed, so she can fatten him up. However, Hansel is very clever."

"Of course he is," muttered Thorin again "Who else would eat a house. Very clever indeed."

"As I was saying, Hansel is very clever, as he has found a bone in the cage and the witch feels it thinking it is his finger. You see, she is blind and can only sense others nearby. She foolishly believes Hansel is still to thin to eat. This goes on for weeks and the witch is getting very inpatient and decides to eat Hansel as he is.

She prepares the oven for him and decides to eat Gretel as well, as she is very hungry. She gets Gretel to open the oven door and prods her to lean over in front of it, to see if the fire is hot enough."

"Oh no!" gasped Ori, going a little pale.

"Gretel knows something is wrong, so she pretends she does not understand what the witch means. The witch is getting angry so she demonstrates and Gretel instantly shoves the witch into the oven and slams and bolts the the oven door shut. The witch is burnt alive and dies a slow horrible death."

"That's a relief." said Balin, nodding his head.

"Gretel frees Hansel from the cage and they discover a lot of treasure and precious stones. Grabbing the jewels into their clothing, the children set of for home."

"How can they get home, when they were lost to began with?" asked Thorin, watching me intently.

"I'm coming to that!" I remarked.

Again Thorin surprised me by smiling at me.

"How did they get home?" asked Bilbo.

"You know how they got home," I reply to him "I used to tell you this as a child."

I did not notice the raised eyebrow from Thorin.

"I know, but its been a while since I heard this one."

"A swam ferries them across the lake and finally find their home."

"A swam?" smirked Thorin "Where did that come from?"

"Hey, I never wrote the story, I'm just telling you how I remember it!" I retort.

Thorin shakes his head laughing softly as do a few others.

"The father now lives alone as the wife has died from unknown causes snd is at a loss at not seeing his children again but is pleasently surprised to see them return safely. With the witches treasure, they all live happily ever after."

"Very peculiar story." remarked Gandalf, smoking his pipe.

"Tell us another story." smiled Kili.

"It is best she doesn't, the bowls needs cleaning!" said Thorin.

"Whose she, the cat's mother?" I snapped getting up gathering the bowls.

I remember seeing a stream before we took shelter and walk of towards it.

Out of all of my new companions, Thorin was a mystery. Not only was he always grumpy, he had this knack of staring without blinking (if that was even possible!) At first, I noticed he was staring at Bilbo with a look of disgust. Then earlier his piecing blue eyes went on to me. I acted like I had not noticed, which was difficult to say the least. If he hates Bilbo with his staring, that made me realise, he felt the same about me. Though he did have a nice laugh.

As I kneel by the waters edge, I ponder what exactly I have done to deserve his hatred. Maybe it was because I was a woman or had stood up for Bilbo. Well it was not my fault if he acted like that all the time.

I placed the bowls beside me and taking one, I started cleaning it.

'You look so much like your mother!' a voice said, startling me.

Glancing over my shoulder, I see if anybody had followed me. I didn't see anyone, although nothing would put it pass me if Kili or Fili would try one of there jokes on me.

Thinking that though, why did the voice mention my mother? That made no sense!

'Because it's true!'

"Stop it, it's not funny!"

'Why?'

I stood up, suddenly feeling very weird. I felt so lightheaded. I place my hand on my forehead willing everything to stop spinning.

'Why?' repeated the voice.

"I said stop it!" I shouted, before falling to the ground in unconsciousness.

o0o

~~Thorin's POV~~

Trying to get to sleep was proving fruitless. I glance around the camp, seeing many are asleep but where was Elaina?" Surely she should be back by now. I knew I should have asked Fili to go with her.

Getting up, I make my way, the way she went, hoping she was alright.

"I said stop it!" I heard Elaina shout out.

Running now, with sword in hand, I went towards the clearing, I saw Elaina staring at the water before collapsing. Reasured there was no one here, I resheathed my sword and ran up to her.

For a spilt second I just watch her and realise she truly is a sight to see. The way her dark hair gleams in the moonlight, made her look more enchanting then usual. Snapping out of my thoughts, I gently touch her. She was freezing.

Taking my cloak of, I placed it around her and then got up and picked her up. I took her back to the camp.

"Gandalf!" I shouted not caring if I woke everyone else up. "Gandalf, it's Elaina," I glance down at her who was shivering in my arms "Something has happened to her!"

Gandalf quickly walked up to us as did Bilbo and Loki.

"What happened?" demanded Gandalf, checking Elaina over.

"I noticed she never returned back here so I checked to see if she was alright. I then heard her shout 'I said stop it!' to whatever was there. She then collapsed. She is cold to the touch."

I was really worried for her. What had done this? I wondered. By now the whole camp was up and was crowding around myself and Elaina.

"What's the matter with her?" asked Ori.

"She, She will be alright, won't she?" I heard Hetti say and I briefly met her green eyes, she was in tears and looked defeated.

"We'll get to the bottom of this!" I say gently to her.

Kili who was nearby had placed his arm around her, trying to console her, as was Fili and Ori.

"Did someone attack her?" asked Dwalin, ready to go into battle.

I had had enough of this.

"Leave us be!" I snapped at them all.

All but Gandalf, Bilbo and Loki went away again.

"Place her on a bedroll!" said Gandalf.

Holding Elaina tightly, I walked her to a bedroll and gently placed her on it. My hand went to hers and I held it. Why was she affecting me like this. I barely knew her and yet, I wanted to protect her.

Gandalf came back with some sort of medicine.

"What are you doing?" asked Bilbo, clearly very worried about his daughter.

"I'm going to try and bring her temperature back to normal, then see what is causing this."

I look at Gandalf who was looking at Loki like they knew what the problem was. I did not like this one bit and wanted answers now!

"You both know something," I spat out to Gandalf, knowing Loki would lie. "Out with it!"

Bilbo looked up at Gandalf, with a very confused look on his face.

Gandalf frowns and surprisely it was Loki who answered me.

"It appears Elaina has communicated with someone she has never seen or met before."

"What do you mean?" asked Bilbo, looking at Loki now. "Who has communicated with her?"

Loki sighed and looked down, before saying,

"Her father!"