I do not own any of the characters or The Hobbit (just the AU storyline and my OC). Those are the work of the esteemed and brilliant John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, and without his genius, this and many other fan fics would not be in existence.
Please review, favorite and follow- I love them, especially constructive ones!
This chapter is dedicated to my new baby neice, born on September 26th! I'm an auntie now! Mommy and baby are home and well (and the new mommy and daddy are very tired lol- we've been helping out as we can). Apologies for not updating sooner, but I hope you all understand, given the exciting events of the past week :)
Cirashala sighed, staring regretfully at the bowl full of oatmeal on the tray in her lap.
She honestly wasn't sure if it was due to the sheer size of Beorn's dishes, or if dwarves and hobbits really ate that much at once, but it seemed as though she'd barely made a dent in the enormous bowl of oatmeal Bilbo had kindly brought her a little over an hour ago.
Of course, I haven't eaten much in over two weeks, so that may be making things worse.
Her stomach managed to tolerate the intrusion of the food as she ate slowly, but the young woman knew it would be wise to stop now, rather than risk losing her breakfast completely. Sighing again, she slowly maneuvered the wooden tray back onto the crate that served as a nightstand beside her. She hated to waste food, but there was no way in all of Middle-earth she could hope to finish the warm oats and milk and have it remain in her stomach afterward.
The milk she sipped gratefully. The thick liquid had caught her off guard at first, being unused to whole milk, but her parched throat gladly received the beverage. She loved milk, and was also quite relieved to finally have something to drink besides water and tea for a change, though she greatly missed the pleasant tasting elvish pain herbs. Her hand throbbed, though not as painfully as it had when it was first broken, but she knew that she would need as much calcium as she could get to repair the break as quickly as possible.
I need to be able to use my hand and wield my sword and bow, and soon.
She wasn't quite sure how long the company planned to remain at Beorn's house, but she hadn't seen hide nor hair of the skinchanger since he'd first rushed past Deloth into the stormy night. The young woman remembered from the books that Beorn left his home briefly to check on the validity of Gandalf's story, and had a feeling that he had indeed gone and done just that.
He probably checked our story too, come to think of it, Cirashala thought to herself.
Her gaze moved once more toward the navy colored wool tunic she was wearing, and the young woman swallowed nervously. The last words Thorin had said about her prior to their fall had been words of scorn and condemnation for both herself and the hobbit.
How is it, then, that he let me borrow his tunic? Didn't the company lose all their things when they fell?
Her gaze landed once more on the brown tunic folded up on a barrel near the foot of her bed. Dori made it for her, Bilbo had said. The older dwarf hadn't been particularly mean to her, but he hadn't talked directly to her overly much either since she'd joined their group. However, she'd never felt direct hostility from him, unlike Gloin and Nori.
The young woman marveled at the remarkable change in the two formerly hostile dwarves. While it took everyone time to warm up to her, some longer than others, both the former thief and the red haired dwarf had been outright antagonistic toward her prior to the events in Goblin Town. She remembered cursing as heavily as she could at the disgusting creature, and it sparked a thought in her mind.
Are they being nice to me because of what I said to the Goblin King?
The young woman had no idea, but she welcomed their new countenance toward her regardless. She'd always hated hostility and confrontation, and was relieved that they seemed to have finally included her in the group, though it would take some time before she could fully trust them.
The distant sound of weapons clanging outside ceased, breaking Cirashala from her thoughts. It was closely followed by the distinctive thump thump of heavy dwarf boots on a stone floor, and the crackling sound of a log being tossed onto a fire.
Gaze turning once more to the brown tunic, the young woman slowly inched toward the edge of her bed, careful to move slowly lest she fall from dizziness and reopen her healing wounds. Bilbo had muttered something about needing to train with his sword so he could actually wield it rather than uselessly swinging it about, and had left her to her meal after she'd promised him for the umpteenth time that she would call out if she needed anything. Fortunately, though the pain in her back was dulled from the herbs Oin had given her, her arms had finally begun to wake up, and she found that she was able to move a bit more freely than she had when she had first awakened earlier. She drew the makeshift curtain back, before reaching for the brown fabric.
Bilbo said Thorin had lent her his tunic until she awakened and could put her new one on. Well, she was awake, and the dwarf king- her king- deserved his tunic back.
XXX
Thorin sighed, taking the opportunity to dip a ladle into a barrel and sip some water as he entered the stone house. Beads of sweat poured down his brow as he set the ladle back down, the dwarf king having worked with Fili himself to aid the lad in regaining the use of his healing arm.
His side twinged a bit from where the warg had bitten him, but he shrugged it off. His armor had deflected most of the bite anyway, and he would need to regain his own strength should something less savory make an appearance.
As much as he understood the concept of distrust to those whom he didn't know well, he really wished Beorn had simply taken the dwarves and wizard at their word, rather than gallavanting off to check their story and leave his home relatively unguarded. Thorin knew without a doubt that each and every dwarf in the company would fight to their dying breath to defend themselves should orcs attack the skinchanger's home, but with the young woman and two of his best fighters injured, along with some milder injuries himself, the task would be far more difficult than if they were all in good health.
He was so lost in his thoughts that the dwarf king couldn't help the slight jump as the sound of a soft voice right behind him reached his ears. Turning, the blue eyes widened slightly in surprise at the speaker.
"What are you doing out of bed?" he asked sternly, hands still at his sides yet ready to reach out should the young woman collapse. His question caused the others members of the company to turn toward the pair in surprise. "You need to rest and let your wounds heal." Cirashala swallowed nervously, before reaching a bundle out to him. The dwarf king glanced down at the navy blue fabric in her arms in slight surprise, before looking up at her, just now realizing that she had put her new tunic on.
"I, uh...thank you, my lord, for lending me your tunic," Cirashala whispered quickly, before glancing down to her toes, swallowing heavily. The tension in her shoulders was incredibly obvious, and Thorin quickly realized that she was very nervous about his reaction. Reaching out, he accepted the tunic, nodding to her.
Cirashala's gaze stayed on the floor even as her hands wrapped around her middle, and the dwarf king could see the hesitation in her stance as she turned and began to slowly walk back toward her makeshift bedchamber. A memory suddenly appeared unbidden, and the condescending words spoken outside of Goblin Town seemingly reverberated in his mind as guilt pooled in his stomach.
He has no place amongst us, and neither does the girl. This journey is too dangerous for those who are so soft and foolish.
Thorin thought of what Kili had told him after the two rejoined the company-about how she'd fought off the lynx with simply a branch to save his life despite a broken hand and her own injuries, how she managed to secure aid for them both from the woodsmen, and how she'd had the idea to come searching for the company at Beorn's house after hearing what Gandalf had said in Rivendell.
The dwarf king also recalled how she'd yelled at the Great Goblin in their defense, despite the harsh words he'd spoken to her a mere half hour prior to the interrogation- and how, even through the torture, she refused to give up their quest to the goblins. And finally, he thought of how she'd valiantly tried to keep Kili from falling into the abyss and ended up falling in herself rather than letting his hand go to save her own life.
"Cirashala," he said gently, causing her to freeze. The young woman slowly turned around to look at him, the hesitation and surprise clear in the blue orbs. Thorin sighed.
"I am..." he awkwardly cleared his throat, "That is..." Blue eyes met, and he stood up a bit straighter, the awkwardness gone.
"I was wrong outside Goblin Town," he stated, causing her eyes to widen considerably even as the members of the company behind him smiled. Thorin reached out and gently placed a hand on her shoulder, his visage stern though there was no hostility in his eyes.
"You are incredibly foolish," he continued, and her shoulders slumped in defeat. "And reckless, revealing yourself and saying such things to the Great Goblin, of all people! You are completely out of your mind!" Cirashala swallowed thickly, before lowering her head a bit. Thorin's voice took on a gentler tone as he briefly glanced at Kili, then back at her.
"But for that, I owe you my life, and that of my kin." Cirashala looked up in surprise, and Thorin smiled.
"You are, without a doubt, the craziest human I have ever met," he continued, gently squeezing her shoulder before removing his hand even as the company behind them smiled. "But, I am sorry I doubted you."
Cirashala's eyes widened in surprise and shock, before she bowed her head forward, being unable to do a full bow at the waist with her injuries. She came back up to meet his gaze.
"You are my king," she said quietly. "I know you think it reckless and foolish that I did what I did, and maybe it was stupid. But I would do it again, if it meant protecting my friends." Thorin sighed in defeat, shaking his head.
"I know you would," he said quietly. "But I hope you never have to." His gaze met hers, and his visage turned stern again, though no hostility was in it.
"Now, get to bed," he commanded, concern etched into his features as he beheld her pale face. "We will leave as soon as Beorn returns and gives us leave, and you need to be able to accompany us." Cirashala nodded, before looking wistfully outside.
"I-in all honesty, my l-Thorin," she corrected, noticing Fili shaking his head slightly at her out of the corner of her eye. "I would rather sit outside, if I may." Thorin's mouth opened to retort, but she quickly continued.
"I- you see, it hurts my back more to lie on it than it does to sit up," she finished, her gaze pleading. "Please?" The dwarf king sighed, before looking at the old healer.
"Oin! Can she sit outside?" he asked loudly so the deaf dwarf could hear him clearly. "She says it hurts her back more to lie on it than to sit up." Oin sighed as he moved beside Thorin, before looking at her for a long moment.
"Aye," he finally said, noting how her shoulders visibly loosened in relief at his words. "But NO trying to fight at ALL, mind you. I just want you to sit-nothing more, young lady." The young woman accepted the healer's stern orders with a nod, before making her way outside the large door.
"Will she be ready to travel when Beorn returns?" Thorin asked Oin as quietly as he could and still have the dwarf hear him. Oin glanced at her retreating form, then back at his king.
"I don't know, Thorin," he replied honestly. "But if she rests until it is time for us to leave, and perhaps doubles up with another person on a pony so she doesn't have to try and attempt to use reigns with her broken hand, she might be." Thorin nodded, before his gaze landed on his nephews as they moved past him and out the door with their dinner in their hands. A few other members of the company followed them, and he figured they likely wished to sit with her outside, rather than leaving her alone and unprotected. Concern swirled in his mind as he remembered just how close he had come to losing nearly all the kin he had left, and the dwarf king swallowed heavily.
Perhaps we should...no, it would be incredibly stupid and foolish to have any of us leave before Beorn returns. We will just have to trust that he accepts our word and decides to aid us rather than kill us.
The glimmer of hope that he would aid them and find their story truthful still did not stop the butterflies in Thorin's stomach from worrying about what should happen when the skinchanger finally returned from his task.
XXX
Beorn's great paws fairly flew along the ground as he expertly maneuvered around trees and traveled over hills and rock. The large man knew he would be much faster traveling as a bear rather than in his human form, and wished to scout his lands for orc vermin before returning to the small cottage.
The golden eyes beheld the Carrock, the great rock shaped like a bear that he had carven with his own hands, and the enormous bear entered the foaming, cool water of the Anduin.
Just a few more miles, and then I will be home.
Beorn dearly hoped that the dwarves had not been foolish and left before his return as promised, for he did not wish to inflict the consequences of such actions on those who were so valiant and noble at heart.
But my ponies and animals are like my kin, and if any should harm or steal them, they will pay for their lives, no matter how courageous and valiant they are.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
A response to guest reviewer SMCB: Thanks! I'm glad it worked out well- ideas are coming fast for me right now :) I'm glad you enjoyed reading it, and hopefully I can update again here soon :)
A response to guest reviewer Kai- Thanks! I'm glad you liked it and thought it was sweet :)
A response to kitcat12: Hey smile. I'm glad you liked this chapter. I do my best to update when I can. I can't wait for it either, but all in due time my friend smile.
A response to guest reviewer Marie: You are very welcome :) I agree, though our dear company shall soon be back on the road :)
Thanks to all who review, favorite, and follow- your reviews encourage me to update more (providing life allows ;) :D :D :D