Hey there guys! We're back with the instalment of Sophia and Aiden's story, I am hoping you are enjoying this so far.

Oh, I should add a little note here; these stories I write, mostly with the Thorin/OCs, they are based as a major alternate universe, where in this the dwarves would have a longer lifespan than normal, crops/food that probably wouldn't be available are and there will be more breeds of dogs in this, which would make the pugs in the Hobbit movies make more sense.

Review responses;

LairaCapulet – I am really glad you enjoyed the previous chapter! I enjoyed writing that one so much, not just with Sophia and Thorin finally getting together. I have had people complain before about the LGBTQ themes in there, so I hope that's not a big issue for you.

As for Aiden asking about a sibling. . .not sure when to put that. It will probably be after Sophia and Thorin are married and Aiden knows that a sibling may be coming.

Crystal-Wolf-Guardian-967 – I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Chapter 14

The next morning, we're all woken up by the howling of wargs. We all panic as we jump up, Aiden clinging tightly to me. Thorin sends Bilbo up a path to scout out the orcs while the rest of us gets everything packed up.

Once we are done, we wait for Bilbo to return. I hold Aiden in my arms to give him some comfort as he's trembling in fear, Kili rubbing a hand up and down his back as he and Fili stand on either side of us.

Bilbo soon returns to us.

"How close is the pack?" Thorin asks as he notices the hobbit.

"Too close. A couple of leagues, no more, but that is not the worst of it."

"Have the wargs picked up our scent?" Dwalin asks.

"Not yet, but they will; we have another problem."

"Did they see you? They saw you!" Gandalf panics.

"No, that's not it."

Gandalf smiles and turns to us. "What did I tell you? Quiet as a mouse. Excellent burglar material."

The dwarves chuckle loudly in appreciation of Bilbo and continue talking. As they do, I pay attention to Bilbo and can see he is looking exasperated that no one is hearing him out.

"Everyone quiet!" I call out, causing the others to stop and look to me. "Bilbo is trying to say something!"

Bilbo smiles at me in appreciation before turning to the others as they give him their full attention - at last.

"Thank you. I'm trying to tell you there is something else out there."

We all instantly look worried.

"What form did it take? Like a bear?" Gandalf asks.

"Ye. . ." Bilbo does a double take and looks curiously at Gandalf. "Y-yes. But bigger, much bigger."

Bofur looks to Gandalf "You knew about this beast?"

Gandalf turns and walks a few steps away.

"I say we double back."

"And be run down by a pack of orcs." Thorin points out.

"There is a house, it's not far from here, where we might take refuge." Gandalf explains.

"Whose house? Are they friend or foe?"

He hesitates before he replies. "Neither. He will help us, or he will kill us."

The dwarves and I look at each other in dismay, Aiden clinging to me.

"What choice do we have?"

A roar splits the night behind us, making everyone jump, Aiden yelping in my arms.

"None."

As we turn to run, Kili takes Aiden into his arms, allowing me to run without his weight bringing me down. We run through plains and across streams, the orcs and bear on our tail.

"Come on!" Gandalf yells out.

"So much for it being nearby." I manage to get out, running out of breath.

Thorin takes my hand, helping me to keep up. "Just keep running. We'll get there."

As we run through a forest, we stop suddenly when an ear-splitting roar sounds nearby.

"That sounds bigger than any bear I've heard." I mutter, squeezing Thorin's hand hard.

"This way, quickly!" Gandalf calls out.

We don't need telling twice as we turn and begin to run again, Bombur, looking on in shock, is paralysed by fear, unable to move.

"Bombur, come on!" Thorin yells out as he grabs hold of the rotund dwarf and pulls him along.

As we exit the forest, I spy a house surrounded by a hedge in the middle of a field. If we weren't being chased by a bear, I would have taken more time to appreciate the view.

Gandalf turns to the others. "To the house! Run!"

We run across the plain; Bombur, the fattest dwarf, outruns all the rest of us in his fear, surprising all us as he does so. I guess fear can make you do impressive thigns. We run through a gate in the hedge.

"Come on, get inside!" Gandalf calls out as he stands by the gate, ushering us all through.

We run to the front door of the house; it is closed. Bombur, who reaches the door first, throws himself against it but falls flat on his back when the door doesn't budge. The rest of us catch up and begin throwing ourselves against the door, trying to open it, Kili passing Aiden back to me. As Aiden cries out, I look to see him looking behind us, looking back, my eyes go wide as I see the huge bear barrelling towards us.

"Open the door!" Gandalf shouts as he runs to us.

"Quickly!" Thorin yells out.

Thorin, pushes through the dwarves pressed against the door, manages to raise the exterior bolt, opening the doors. We all bolt inside the house and the dwarves try to slam the door shut, but the bear has already gotten its head in the door. As the bear roars and tries to push the door open, the dwarves yell and strain to close it. Bilbo pulls out his sword and points it unsteadily at the bear, I do the same after passing Aiden to Bofur, who is standing behind us. The dwarves yell as they press against the door.

"Come on, lads!" Dwalin exclaims.

With a final heave, the dwarves manage to close the door and drop the bolt across it. They sigh in relief, shock, fear, and tiredness. I slump forward slightly before kneeling in front of Aiden, as he runs back to me, to make sure he's alright.

"What is that?" Ori asks as he turns to the Wizard.

"That. . .is our host." Gandalf replies.

We all turn to Gandalf in bewilderment.

"His name is Beorn, and he is a skin-changer."

Oin checks his hearing trumpet to make sure he has heard Gandalf correctly.

"You mean like a shape shifter?" I ask as I stand, my hands on Aiden's shoulders.

"Almost. However, Beorn only has one other form. Sometimes he's a huge black bear; sometimes he's a great strong man. The bear is unpredictable, but the man can be reasoned with. However, he is not overfond of dwarves."

I scoff at that, allowing Aiden to explore the house with the others. "Of course he isn't. The only house you bring us to for safety and the host doesn't like dwarves, where there's thirteen of them."

Gandalf chuckles slightly in amusement as Ori peeks out a crack in the door.

"He's leaving!"

Dori rushes over and pull his youngest brother away from the door.

"Come away from there! It's not natural, none of it. It's obvious: he's under some dark spell."

"Don't be a fool; he's under no enchantment but his own. Alright now, get some sleep, all of you. You'll be safe here tonight."

The dwarves start spreading out through the house. Gandalf whispers quietly to himself.

"I hope."

I glance at him after hearing this but look around the house myself, noticing that all the furniture is built in mind for a man of seven or eight foot in height. I swallow at the thought of this man, now realising Gandalf's hope for our safety.

I look up as Thorin makes his way over, putting a hand on my neck before pressing our foreheads together. I close my eyes and release the breath of anxiety I had been holding in.

"Are you alright?" Thorin asks.

"I'm fine. Just a little shaken up."

He nods as we soon pull apart. "And Aiden?"

I look down and not seeing him with me, look around and smile as I spot him looking around in awe.

"Apparently taking this better than I am."

He looks over and chuckles before kissing me and checking on the others. I take this change to continue exploring, soon coming across the animals he has in the stable area of the house and smile at the cattle. I reach out and pet one of them on the snout, giggling as it's long tongue reaches out to lick my hand. At least there's some sort of familiarity, the cattle looking like the highland cattle from home.

"Seems to like you." Fili says as he and his brother join me.

I just grin. "Animals seem to always like me."

We soon hear a yelp and at Aiden calling out for me, we rush over to the stall we heard the yelp and stop, looking on in amusement as we see Aiden's legs sticking out of a hay bale.

"Aiden. . .what happened?" I ask.

"I jumped on the hay and fell." he explains, his answer muffled slightly by the hay.

The three of us laugh as Fili walks forward, gently grips onto one of his ankles and pulls him out, Aiden giving another yelp, giggling away as he sees us.

"Hi."

"Are you sure that's Aiden, Soph?" Kili asks as he walks over. "I'm sure his head wasn't pointing down last time I saw him."

He then reaches out and tickles Aiden's belly, now exposed as his shirt is folded under his chin, causing him to squeal in delight.

"I'm upside down, Kee!"

"I thought there was something not quite right." Fili says as he gently lays the boy on the ground.

Aiden jumps up and runs over to me. I smile as I kneel down, pulling pieces of hay from his hair.

"Come now, Aiden. Oin and I need to check your wounds and then it's time for sleep."

"But mummy, I'm not tired." Aiden says through a yawn.

I just chuckle as I pick him up and walk back to the hay bale, make a little bed before sitting him down and calling Oin over. After we both get his bandages changed, I lay down beside my son, pull our blankets out of our packs and cover us both up. Fili and Kili settle down on either side of us, doing the same, before the others go to sleep.

As I hold Aiden close to me, thoughts on what's just happened goes through my mind. Seeing the bear, hearing his name is Beorn and that he's a Skin Changer, even this house, everything is so familiar to me. But, for the life of me I can't remember what that is, just like a lot of other instances on this journey. It's getting really frustrating. At certain points, I can feel a niggling sensation in the back of my mind, as if something is there that's wanting to push through, wanting me to remember, even being able to understand what Azog was saying. It's like. . .someone's wanting me to remember. . .to warn me of something. . .I just wish I knew what it was.

"Sophia, are you alright?"

Snapping out of my thoughts, I look up and smile as I see Thorin standing there, looking at me in concern, a blanket over his arm.

"I'm fine, Thorin. Don't worry."

He looks to me for a moment, as if to analyse the sincerity of what I said before he nods. He walks over and drapes the blanket sideways over the four of us, placing a kiss on each of the boys heads and then me on the lips. I smile up at him as he lovingly cups my face and giving my courting braid a fond tug before smiling.

"Get some sleep, Sophia. We're safe here, for now."

I nod as he walks over to the entrance of the pen, sitting down by the doorway, leaning against the wall behind him as he rests his right arm on his raised leg. I just smile as I settle down, going still at Aiden stirring, but he just snuggles closer to me before continuing to sleep. I smile more as I close my eyes and also sleep.

I wake up the next morning, feeling more relaxed than I've felt in a long time, that is until I feel next to me and realise Aiden is missing. Sitting bolt upright, I notice the other dwarves are missing also, Bilbo being the only one apart from me still in our sleeping area.

I yawn as I stand, stretching my arms above me before walking over to Bilbo, who is just stirring and suddenly jumps at the huge bee that landed on his nose.

"Bigger than normal bees, aren't they?" I say as I hold my hand out to him.

He takes my hand and I help him up. "Just a little. I would hate to be stung by one of them."

I grin as we make our way to the others who are arguing by the back door about how to get away from here without being seen by Beorn, who is chopping wood outside from what I can hear.

"I say we should leg it and slip out the back way!" Nori suggests.

Dwalin grabs him by the collar of his shirt. "I'm not running from anyone, beast or no."

Gandalf turns to them before they can fight, "There is no point in arguing. We cannot pass through the wilderlands without Beorn's help. We'll be hunted down before we ever get to the forest."

He then spots Bilbo and I, as does Aiden as he runs over. I smile as I pick him up, settling him on my hip as we stand in between Thorin and Kili.

"You're starting to get too big for this." I say to him quietly, causing him to giggle as he lays his head on my shoulder, Thorin putting his arm around my waist.

"Ah, Bilbo, Sophia. There you both are. This will require some delicate handling; we must tread very carefully. The last person to have startled him was torn to shreds."

We all instantly look to Gandalf in shock. Thorin and Kili glancing at each other as Aiden holds onto me tighter while I rub his back.

"I will go first, ah, Bilbo, you will come with me."

Everyone turns to the Hobbit and we see him hesitate for a few moments, but with a nod of Thorin's head, he walks over to the Wizard.

"I-Is this a good idea?" he asks nervously.

"Yes. Now, the rest of you, you just wait here and don't come out, until I give the signal."

"Right, wait for the signal." Bofur confirms as he's stood by the window.

"And no sudden moves or loud noises and don't over crowd him. Only come out in pairs. Sophia, you and Aiden will come out next. Seeing you both here might keep him calm enough to allow the dwarves to stay. "

I nod as I set Aiden on his feet and go to move, feeling Thorin's hand tighten on me, I give him a reassuring smile before walking up to Gandalf and Bilbo.

Gandalf turns to leave but then turns back, "No, actually, Bombur, you count as two so you should come out alone."

Bombur gives a noise of agreement and nods.

"Remember, wait for the signal." he turns and leaves with Bilbo.

"What signal would that be?" Bofur asks, but Gandalf is gone.

I hold Aiden's hand as we stand by the door, waiting for the signal. I will admit, I am a little nervous about meeting Beorn, after meeting his bear form. . .I'm a little afraid of what his human form may do. Gandalf said that he can be reasoned with. . .I just hope he's right.

"Sophia, go!" Bofur hisses, pulling me from my thoughts.

Holding Aiden's hand, we walk out together and looking in the direction of the others, I have to freeze slightly at the size of the man. I was right about my assumption of his height, roughly around seven maybe eight feet tall, brown hair, bushy eyebrows and a beard which stops on either side of his chin. His brown eyes looking wild from what I can see. He wears brown cotton pants, shoes and is bare chested. I also notice a manacle and chain attached to his right wrist. He stops as he notices us.

"You have a woman and a child with you?" he asks, surprise evident in his voice.

Gandalf turns to us, beckoning us over. "Ah yes. This is Sophia and her son, Aiden."

Just as I'm about to thank him for allowing us to rest in his home, Beorn then notices Bilbo, who has been hiding behind Gandalf, as he now pokes his head around the wizard for a better look.

"Who is this little fellow?"

"Well, this would be Mr. Baggins, of the Shire."

Beorn picks up his axe slightly, causing Aiden to scuttle behind me. "He's not a dwarf, is he?"

"Why, no. No, he's a Hobbit. A good family, an unimpeachable reputation." Gandalf says, with a hint of pride as he places a hand on the hobbits shoulder.

"A halfling, woman, child and a wizard. How come you here?"

"Oh well, the fact is that we've had a bad time of it. From Goblins in the mountains."

"What did you go near Goblins for? Stupid thing to do!"

"You are absolutely rig-"

Hearing footsteps, we turn around to see Balin and Dwalin walking out. Beorn also sees them as raises his axe, growling. Aiden hides behind me again, still keeping hold of my hand. Bilbo and I look between the dwarves and Beorn in worry, especially at seeing the panic in the large man's eyes.

"Dwalin and Balin." Dwalin introduces himself and his older brother, although he probably wouldn't admit it, I can tell he's slightly nervous, which I couldn't blame him for.

"I-I must confess, uh, several of our group, are in fact. . .dwarves." Gandalf replies, feeling more nervous then when he left the house. That's when I realise; he had yet to give the signal, and probably didn't give a signal for Aiden and I either.

"Do you call two, "several"?" Beorn is getting extremely nervous and agitated.

Gandalf pauses. "Well, uh now that you put it that way. . ." he stutters. "Yes, there could be more than two. . ."

After a moment of Gandalf babbling, Oin and Gloin come out.

"Ah, and here are some more of our happy troupe!"

"And do you call eight, a troupe? What are you? A travelling circus?"

Dori and Ori come out, causing Beorn to growl again.

"Dori and Ori, at your service." Dori introduces, always the polite one.

"I don't want your service!"

"Absolutely understandable!" Gandalf tries to calm things down.

Fili and Kili walk out.

"Oh! Fili and Kili, I'd quite forgotten."

Then, stupidly, Nori runs out, followed by Bofur, Bifur and Bombur.

"Yes, Nori, Bofur, Bifur. . .and Bombur." Gandalf seems to have just given up at his point.

"Is that it? Are there any more?" Beorn asks.

Thorin is the last to come out, who Beorn appears to recognise. Even during this tense situation, I know I shouldn't, but I can't help but stare at Thorin. Even looking as dishevelled as he does, he still manages to hold himself regally. Given he is a future king, it's understandable, but he still looks so handsome while doing, while I'm sure I look a right mess.

After a few moments of tenseness, Beorn invites us all back inside the house where he, and surprising to us, his animals set out breakfast for us. Beorn's now wearing a woollen tunic vest as he goes around the table, pouring milk into our large mugs, I help Aiden as he's struggling with his, since it's almost the size of his head. We all tell him about our journey through the mountain. Looking over the table, I grab some bread and cheese, making a cheese sandwich before turning and handing it to Thorin, noticing he's not eating. He looks at it a moment before smiling his thanks and taking it from me. I smile back before turning to Beorn as he begins speaking.

"So you are the one they call Oakenshield." Beorn says to Thorin once the story is over. "Tell me, why is Azog the Defiler hunting you?"

"You know of Azog? How?" Thorin asks.

"My people were the first to live in the mountains, before the orcs came down from the north. The Defiler killed most of my family, but some he enslaved."

Bilbo sees the remnants of manacle on Beorn's wrist. I also glance at them again, that explains where that came from.

"Not for work, you understand, but for sport. Caging skin-changers and torturing them seemed to amuse him."

"There are others like you?" Bilbo asks.

Beorn pauses for a moment. "Once, there were many."

"And now?" I ask gently, having a feeling I know where this is going.

Beorn looks to me, a sad look in his eyes. "Now, there is only one."

The rest of us go silent at this. I wrap an arm around Aiden and pull him closer to me. I would not know what to do if I lost my son, so knowing Beorn lost all of his family. . .I don't know how he's managed to go on for this long.

"You need to reach the mountain before the last days of autumn?" Beorn asks, changing the subject as he sits in his large chair.

"Before Durin's Day falls, yes." Gandalf answers.

Glancing behind me and seeing Thorin looking subdued, I reach back and take his hand, giving it a squeeze of comfort, which he squeezes back before letting go.

"You are running out of time."

"Which is why we must go through Mirkwood."

I look up at this. Mirkwood? Why was that name so familiar to me? I know I have never heard of that place before. . .or have I?

"A darkness lies upon that forest. Fell things creep beneath those trees. There is an alliance between the orcs of Moria and the Necromancer in Dol Guldur. I would not venture there except in great need."

"We will take the Elven Road. That path is still safe."

"Safe? The Wood-Elves of Mirkwood are not like their kin. They're less wise and more dangerous. But it matters not."

Thorin looks to the skin-changer. "What do you mean?"

"These lands are crawling with orcs. Their numbers are growing, and you are on foot. You will never reach the forest alive."

Thorin looks shocked. Beorn stands up from the table and faces Thorin.

"I don't like dwarves. They're greedy and blind, blind to the lives of those they deem lesser than their own."

Beorn picks up a mouse that had been scampering on the table and holds it, all the while approaching Thorin. who is standing with his arms crossed. I watch, slightly worried about what is to happen next, but it seems I have nothing to worry about.

"But orcs I hate more. What do you need?"

It is decided that we will rest for a week or two, give everyone time to rest up and for us to collect more supplies, Beorn happily accepting us into his home, to our great relief. It seems Gandalf assuming mine and Aiden's presence here would be a big help is right as he's very attentive to our needs, even offering Aiden and I the spare bedroom he has, to which we are grateful. It's right to say that these next couple weeks or so are going to be interesting.

There we have it. Everyone is safely with Beorn now and are taking a well deserved rest. I really hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please leave me your nice reviews and comments as I love hearing from all of you.