Chapter Ten

Trying To Forget That Night

~~Elaina's POV~~

Again we travel on and while there was cheerful banter around me, I kept to myself though. Finding out that a roman soldier, on a cloud I might add, is really my father has turned my life around for the worse.

'If he was really my father, where the the hell was he while I was placed in a foster home? Why show himself now and not then?'

All these thoughts swirled around in my head, which was causing me to develope a headache.

"Are you alright Elaina?"

The voice made me jump and I glanced around and was surprised to see Loki looking back at me with concern on his face. Composing myself while holding Midna, I placed a smile on my face.

"I'm fine Loki."

"No your not Elaina, your in turmoil." replied Loki.

"I'm fine!" I repeat.

"Elaina, I heard you."

I look back at him, not understanding.

"I never said anything!"

"Never said what?" asked Bofur listening in.

"It can wait!" remarked Loki, watching me intently, before galloping off to the front where Gandalf and Dwalin were.

'Very weird!' I thought to myself.

"You had us all worried last night, lass," said Balin, making me glance at him "Even Gandalf, Master Bilbo and Thorin were very concerned for your well being!"

"I'm sorry." I whispered.

Was this always going to the way, me apologising, that was not even my fault? I never wanted to see that man on a cloud ever again.

'King of the gods,' I scoffed to myself 'More like insensitive arsehole.'

I never wanted to see him again. He said that him and I were connected, no, not going to happen. He means nothing to me and I intend to keep my vow, to never have anything more to do with him.

I was unaware at the time, that Loki had heard everything I was thinking!

~~Hetti's POV~~

I was thankful to Kili, when he offered to look after me today. I was still getting used to all these men being near me. I was just used to Bilbo and the other hobbits back in the The Shire.

I glance over to where Elania is, she looks alright now, I surmised but watching her last night completely freaked me out. It brought back memories of that night.

~~Flashback~~

The fire raging outside the locked door, the strange black shadow that was near Elaina as she slept on in the foster home, hovering after her ,about to do something awful. The pounding of the window had stopped the black shadow momentarily, and I remembered sinking under my covers a little, hoping this thing would not realise I was not asleep.

The pounding continued and I watch carefully as Mother Jane started screaming and then nothing. The black shadow was about to go towards Elaina again when something strange happened.

I could see a light emanate all around Elaina, while she slept on. Trying not to disturb the black shadow, I got out of bed carefully and tiptoed towards the window and watch the light speard out, hitting the black shadow.

The noise it made should have woken Elaina up but still she slept. I remember watching the black shadow succumb to the light, though it was trying desperately to fight the light source, but to no avail.

Just as suddenly as the light appeared, it went and had taken the black shadow with it. I was to petrified to move and when I heard someone pound on the window again, I turned my attention at the window and saw Mother Jane trying to shatter the glass without no sucess.

She went away and I thought all hope was lost. Then the pounding starts again and I watch as Mother Jane frantically tries smashing the glass with a hammer and I move back, just in case she could finally smash the window.

Nothing seemed to work and by now, I was coughing as fire smoke were slowly sweeping into the room. I glanced at Elaina and still she was out cold. That black shadow must of done something. The pounding of the window suddenly ceased and I turn my head and watch in horror as I saw Mother Jane slump to the ground. It was very apparent, there was something out there.

Just as I was wondering if another of those black shadows were now outside, the door opened and I saw a man hover over Elaina. He picked her up then he had noticed me when another cough took hold of me and that was the night that had changed my life forever.

~~Flashback End~~

I shiver as all these memories I thought I had buried come back to haunt me. I was brought back to the present when a arm held me tighter.

"Are you alright butterfly?"

"Sorry, what?" I reply, still thinking about that night.

"I asked you if you were alright," whispered Kili "You're shivering."

Swallowing hard, I try and relax in Kili's embrace.

"I'm fine." I lied "Just tired."

"Then lean back on me and sleep butterfly and sleep."

I was thankful I was in the front of the pony, I knew my cheeks were scarlet.

"No, your alright," I finally managed to say "I'm fi-,"

"You can not fool me Hetti," interrupted Kili "A little bird told me, that you did not sleep last night."

I felt Kili gently pull me against him.

"Now, you will lean on me and sleep and that's an order."

'An order,' I thought 'What gave him the right to order me around?'

The nerve of the dwarf.

"Please Hetti," I heard Kili say against my right ear "Sleep for a little while, I'll never let you fall of, sleep."

Sighing, I knew he would never leave me alone so I leaned back and my head found his left shoulder. I did shut my eyes but I knew sleep would not come for me.

Unbeknown to me that both Fili and Bilbo had listened in to the entire conversation.

o0o

~~Elaina's POV~~

We were now camping out for the night near the edge of a cliff. At least we were nowhere near a lake tonight. While many of the others was sitting by the firelight, I was in shadow, wanting to be left alone.

I was not in the mood to be sociable, I had to much on my mind. I could see the others watching me from time to time but, I tried not to respond to that. I just wanted to be left alone.

Bilbo was not fooled though.

"Elaina come into the light, you will catch cold."

"I just want to be left alone for a while Bilbo," I whispered to him "I have things on my mind."

"You know I am always here for you, don't you Elaina?" said Bilbo.

I nod my head.

"Yes," I smile up at him "I know you are a very good listener."

"Well I don't know about that." blushed Bilbo adjusting his jacket.

"I know so. I just want to be alone for a little while."

Bilbo looked at me and I could see the concerned look on his face, though he tried to shield his worry by smiling back at me. I watch him go back towards the others, while I try and make out what last night was really about.

~~Fili's POV~~

Even though the camp was in a joyful mood, my eyes kept drifting towards Elaina. I had heard what Gandalf had said to Bilbo and Uncle, about Elaina's real father being a King and that she was really a princess in disguise.

Looking at her now, she looked troubled, which was understandable after what happened to her last night. I just wish I could help ease her troubled mind. I was surprised to see Uncle get up and approach Elaina though. I hoped he wasn't going to upset her.

"Look, Uncle is sitting next to Elaina in the shadow," pointed out Kili who was sitting next to me "I think he likes her."

I turn my head and watch Kili.

"Are you serious? Elaina has other things on her mind at present. As does Uncle for that matter," I exclaimed to him "Yet already you are matchmaking! Kili you are to much sometimes."

"Yeah, I admit to that," grinned Kili "But I think Elaina and Uncle would make-,"

"Kili," I interrupted "You never learn." and despite myself, I smile at my brother's observant nature.

~~Elaina's POV~~

I had my eyes closed when I felt an arm go around me. I snapped my eyes open and glance to my left to see Thorin now leaning his head on my shoulder with his arm wrapped around my middle feeling his warmth radiate my own cooling body.

"Tell me your heart!" whispered Thorin, placing a kiss on my temple.

Never in my entire life would I have guessed that a dwarf king, act like this towards me. Until last night, I really thought he hated me.

"There is nothing to tell." I replied.

"Elaina," breathed Thorin in my left ear "You have barely said anything all day."

"There has been nothing to say," I confessed "but I'm fin-,"

Thorin silenced me by surprising me with a kiss. As our lips met, I heard him growl and felt his free hand cup my cheek, pulling me towards him as the kiss deepened. I found myself placing my hands through his long hair, again hearing a growl.

Thorin nipped my bottom lip which caused me to make a little noise, causing him to smile into the kiss.

"You are not fine Elaina," remarked Thorin breaking the kiss "Let me in, so that I can ease your troubles."

"Thorin," I began and noticed Thorin lean into my neck, nipping and kissing the soft skin he found there. "That tickles."

I chuckled.

I felt and heard him laugh back as he continued assaulting my neck.

"At least you are laughing now." mused Thorin as he continued kissing my neck, tickling my neck with his trimed beard, before capturing my lips again.

~~Hetti's POV~~

Despite my better judgement, I did manage to fall asleep as Kili had woken me up when we had could not go any further as the night was setting in. Now here I was, sitting besides Kili and Gloin who was showing me a picture of his son Gimli.

"He really wanted to come with us," Gloin was saying "but I put my foot down."

"Why?" I asked him.

"Because I would worry," admitted Gloin "No his safe in Ered Lindon. That's all that matters."

Glancing at the picture once more, I wondered who drew this. It was very good.

"Um," I began shyly, taking no notice of Kili's sudden chuckle "Who drew this? It is very lifelike."

"Ori sketched this for me," smiled Gloin "His a excellent artist."

"As is Elaina." I admitted.

"Is she indeed?" said Kili "We'll have to strike a pose for her to sketch us."

"You would have to ask Elaina." I reply to him, catching his gaze.

"Oh don't you worry, I will," grinned Kili "then she can tell us another fairytale, while she sketches us."

"I er hmm." was all I said before a sound was heard.

I glance around the camp, everyone was doing their own thing. Bofur was playing on his flute, Bombur was eating something, Bilbo was by the ponies and Fili was heading this way, sitting next to Kili.

'Did I imagine that noise?' I thought to myself 'I really hope I did.'

"What was that?" I heard Bilbo say.

'So I did hear something!'

"Orcs." replied Kili.

~~Elaina's POV~~

I noticed Thorin stop his tender kisses. Though he stayed by my side, he looked like he was now in a different place altogether. Another howl could be heard which to me, sounded quite near to us.

"Orcs?" mummered Bilbo.

"Throat-cutters. There'll be dozens of them out there. The lowlands are crawling with them." said Fili and I look at him with shock, noticing Hetti go pale.

"They strike in the wee small hours, when everyone's asleep. Quick and quiet, no screams, just lots of blood." exclaimed Kili.

I then watch them both look at one another before they roaring with laughter. Hetti then got up and walked away, visibly upset.

I was about to go to her when I saw Dwalin go by her side, who then shocked me when he placed his arms around her. It was when she moved her head, I realised she was in tears. My attention went back on Fili and Kili, I was livid.

Uncoupling myself from Thorin's embrace, I got up and walked towards the two brothers.

"I know not what an Orc is," I started to say, seeing them both look up at me "but it seems those Orcs are not to be trifled with, so how dare you scare my sister!"

The pair of them only watched me with slight amusement on their faces. I walked away from the pair of them. Not noticing Thorin's startled gaze.

I then heard Thorin's voice,

"You think that's funny? You think a night raid by Orcs is a joke?"

"We didn't mean anything by it." replies Kili and I turn around and saw him looking ashamed now.

"No, you didn't. You know nothing of the world." remarked Thorin walking of besides me, but I don't look at him my eyes rest on both Bilbo and Hetti who was still being consoled by Dwalin.

I hear Balin talk to Fili and Kili. I felt Thorin's eyes on me though.

"Don't mind him, laddie. Thorin has more cause than most to hate orcs. After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain, King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient dwarf kingdom of Moria. But our enemy had got there first."

I finally look at Thorin's gaze and I am instantly transported to his past.

~~Flashback~~

I watch in shock as I see many dwarves fighting grotesque creatures, which I realised were Orcs. I saw a younger Thorin with Balin and other dwarves fighting for their lives. My eyes skimmed around the whole area and I watch in horror when I spotted a tall, pale Orc, wiping out many dwarves with his weapon. A noble looking dwarf looks on in anger.

"Moria had been taken by legions of Orcs lead by the most vile of all their race, Azog, the Defiler. The giant Gundabad Orc had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin. He began by beheading the King." I head Balin say.

I could not believe what I was seeing. The pale Orc sliced of the head of the noble dwarf and was now holding it high in the air, roaring. I then watch in shock as he then flings the head, which bounces and rolls to where Thorin is.

"Nooo!" shouted Thorin.

"Thrain, Thorin's father, was driven mad by grief. He went missing, taken prisoner or killed, we did not know. We were leaderless. Defeat and death were upon us." said Balin.

I watch on as Orcs have now overtaken the dwarves and many dwarves are running away from them.

"That is when I saw him, a young dwarf prince facing down the Pale Orc." continued Balin.

Thorin now has to face this Orc named Azog. The pale Orc swings his weapon and manages to knock away Thorin's shield and then his sword. I watch on as Thorin falls down an embankment and lands hard on the ground.

"He stood alone against this terrible foe, his armor rent…wielding nothing but an oaken branch as a shield." Balin said.

Azog runs to where Thorin is and tries to kill him, but Thorin has grabbed hold of a branch that was lying nearby. Thorin manages to evade the Orcs weapon by rolling away in the nick of time.

Azog does not stop and he wields his weapon against Thorin once more but Thorin blocks his weapon, using the branch which is acting like a shield now. Again Azog is determined to finish of Thorin but Thorin finds a sword lying near him and cuts off his left arm, his weapon arm. His stumb of an arm is bleeding a lot and the Orc cries out in pain.

"Azog, the Defiler, learned that day that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken." remarked Balin.

The pale Orc is chased in a cave with other Orcs following him in.

I hear Thorin shout something, which I do not understand

"Du Bekâr! Du Bekâr!"

Thorin and the others go into battle once more. The Orcs seem to know that Thorin and Co are on fighting form.

"Our forces rallied and drove the Orcs back. Our enemy had been defeated. But there was no feast, no song, that night, for our dead were beyond the count of grief. We few had survived." continues Balin.

Everywhere I look, are corpses of dwarves and Orcs. I see Balin and Dwalin hug one another and place their foreheads together as they weep for their fallen comrades. I notice a silhouette of a dwarf, it was hard to make out who it was, until he turns a little and I saw Thorin, holding onto his branch that had safed his life.

~~Flashback Ends~~

"And I thought to myself then, there is one who I could follow. There is one I could call King." remarked Balin proudly.

I snap out of whatever that was and I watch Thorin who was watching me back with concern on his face. I was about to walk, when I stumbled but don't fall over as Thorin picks me up.

Thorin turns around and we both notice everyone was watching Thorin with a look of awe and understanding.

"I am sorry for your loss." I managed to say to him.

Thorin meets my eyes and smiles.

"Elaina!" whispered Thorin, kissing my forehead.

"But the pale Orc? What happened to him?" asked Bilbo.

"He slunk back into the hole whence he came. That filth died of his wounds long ago." replied Thorin walking back to his bedroll.

He gently placed me down and he found another bedroll and Thorin helped me sit down as I felt a little funny as to what I had just seen.

We were both unaware that Balin and Gandalf were watching each other, like they both knew something, the others didn't.

*Du Bekâr! Du Bekâr! - To Arms To Arms