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- I love them! They keep me encouraged! :D
The sun was just beginning to dip behind the mountains to the west when Thorin called a halt. The dwarf king dismounted, eyeing the copse ahead of them with the critical eye of one long accustomed to traveling in the wild. Footsteps sounded to his right after a moment, and he didn't have to turn to know that Dwalin stood beside him.
"What do you think?" the burly dwarf asked, his own eyes assessing the potential campsite. "Is it safe?" Thorin's eyes kept wandering the copse, not yet certain whether it was unoccupied or not, when four red deer suddenly ambled out of it in the twilight and headed down toward a stream in the distance, completely unafraid.
"Aye, it's safe," he said, knowing that the deer would be terrified if there were orcs or wargs hidden where they had just exited. He turned around to look at the expectant company behind him.
"We will camp here tonight," he ordered. "Oin, Gloin, find some wood and build a fire. Bombur and Bifur, start supper. Balin, you and Dwalin with me. The rest of you, take care of the ponies and see to it that they are fed and watered at the stream before you lay out your bedrolls."
The various members of the company not otherwise occupied moved to unload the ponies so they could be unburdened for the night, and Balin approached the dwarf king as requested. Thorin pulled out the map Beorn had given them from the inside of his jerkin and held it up in the quickly disappearing sunlight, and the two brothers looked over either shoulder at the worn parchment.
"We should be about here," Balin said, pointing to their approximate location on the map. "Here's the copse we're standing in, there's the one far off to the northwest, and there's the stream. We need to ride more northwesterly in order to reach the elven gate by tomorrow afternoon, otherwise we risk passing it altogether." Thorin nodded.
"Aye," he replied, eyeing their route. "Did Beorn say there was anything wrong about these streams?" He pointed to one more stream that passed close to the edge of the forest on the map, and Balin shook his head.
"Not that I can recall," he replied. "He only said that the streams and springs inside the forest were no good." Dwalin nodded, pointing to the stream that ran through the forest itself.
"Aye, and that one too," he said, looking at Thorin. "He said that one had an-"
"Enchantment," Thorin finished, nodding. "We were to be very careful not to drink any of the water in the forest, especially from this stream. Balin, when we get close to that stream, remind the others that under no circumstances are they to touch or drink that water." The old dwarf nodded, and Thorin turned to Dwalin.
"Tomorrow when we ride, make certain that we're moving more northwesterly than today," he ordered as they headed into the copse. "It would not do to miss the gate."
His eyes roamed over the camp, which was beginning to take shape. Oin was beginning to light the fire, striking flint and steel together on a small pile of tinder. Gloin set down a second bundle of firewood beside him, before heading back into the trees to find more, and Bombur was rifling through their supplies and setting aside foodstuffs and a cooking pot for supper. Thorin eyed the bags as thoughts about their route went through his mind, knowing their supplies were limited and journeying around the forest instead of through it would not be feasible. He glanced up as the burly dwarf looked at the wizard through the trees, who was watering his own horse and still conversing with Bilbo.
"Gandalf's been there before, right?" he asked, turning back toward Thorin. "I don't think he would let us miss it." Thorin followed his gaze and nodded, before folding the map back up and inserting it back into the folds of his jerkin.
"Aye," he said in agreement. His eyes landed on water skins as some of the dwarves began to enter the camp, having watered their horses and removed their packs and the heavier supplies off them and set them to graze close to camp just inside the tree line. "We need to replenish our water supply tonight, I think. I do not wish to be delayed when we reach the forest tomorrow., and do not trust any waters near its edge." Balin eyed the company as well as they began to lay out their bedrolls, and turned toward the dwarf king.
"Thorin, do you think perhaps the lads should bathe in the stream tonight?" he asked. "Once we enter the forest, they won't get another chance to do so until Laketown." Thorin eyed the group, then the stream.
"There's a hot spring in this copse," Gloin said as he passed by them, dropping a third load of wood beside Oin, who fed the now growing fire. "It's not too hot, and it's big enough to hold three or four of us at a time. It would be right nice to bathe in."
"Did you say bathe?" Bilbo asked loudly from across the fire, his tone hopeful, and the others turned toward him. Thorin nodded.
"Aye," he said, looking around the group. "You should all take a chance to bathe before we enter the forest. It will be the last time for a whi-" Thorin stopped as he noticed everyone staring past him, and turned to see why, only for his gaze to land upon a rather confused looking young woman.
XXX
Cirashala had taken a few extra minutes after the dwarves had left the ponies to pet a couple of them, glad for the company of the friendly animals to ease her current loneliness and confusion about Kili's present aloofness. The ride today had been very tense and uncomfortable, and though she knew she had friends in others, she appreciated the moment alone to think.
Bilbo said to give it time, she thought to herself sadly. But how much time?
Her fingers threaded through the soft mane of the pony she was petting, surprised that it wasn't tangled at all. The animal nosed her gently, and she sighed.
"I'm sorry, but I don't have any sugar cubes or apples to spare," she whispered, nuzzling the pony right back. As though the animal understood her words, it neighed, nudged her once more, then began to graze. She looked at the soft black and white fur, swallowing heavily.
"You're lucky," she whispered, patting her back. "Your life is spent eating, prancing, and running with your friends, and with a giant shapeshifter friend to keep you brushed and safe and sweet grass to eat. You don't have to worry about hurting your friends, even if you don't mean to. You don't have to wonder why they're upset at you, and you don't have to worry about accidentally saying the wrong thing and making them even more upset at you." She sighed, swallowing heavily again, before her stomach growled. Reluctantly, she left the pony to her supper and headed back into camp.
She was still marveling at the softness of their fur when she stepped into the campsite with her pack- only to have fourteen pair of eyes unexpectedly land directly on her. She stood there for a moment, quite startled and confused at the stares.
"What?" she asked, looking at Thorin and the others in bewilderment. The stares suddenly dissipated as the company went about their business, and Balin sighed.
"I'll take care of it," he said to the dwarf king, who nodded before grabbing his own pack. Turning toward the young woman, he laid his hand on her arm and steered her off to the side.
"Lass," he began when they stopped. "Gloin found a hot spring in the copse just out of sight of our camp, and it would be a good idea for us all to...bathe before we enter the forest." Her eyes widened as she looked into the trees beyond the camp.
"But-but what about-" she began, feeling her cheeks heat up in embarrassment, and Balin chuckled.
"Don't you worry lass," he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You'll get your turn, and I'll make sure no one bothers you when you do. But I do suggest you take it- you're not likely to get a hot bath again until we reach Laketown." She nodded, relief settling within her, and he went back to setting up his bedroll. She glanced around until her eyes landed on Bilbo, before moving toward him. Stopping next to where he was working, she gently nudged him with the toe of her boot.
"Is this spot taken?" she asked, gesturing toward the blank space next to him. He smiled and shook his head.
"No, not at all," he said, patting the grass. "You're welcome to put your bedroll next to mine if you like." The young woman set her pack down and proceeded to untie her blankets.
Her thoughts drifted toward the hot spring and she couldn't help but feel giddy at the prospect of a hot, steaming bath. Her muscles were sore from riding all day and she hadn't yet gotten used to sleeping on the ground again after having slept on the makeshift mattress since arriving at Beorn's house. She'd always loved long soaks in a hot bath after a weary day, and the regular absence of one was one of the things she greatly missed about her world.
To think I used to have a hot bath almost every night- I didn't realize how much I took it for granted until now.
She reached up a hand to touch her hair, and frowned when she felt the snarls and slight remnants of dirt in it from their travel. She dearly wished for some shampoo and conditioner, and a toothbrush and toothpaste. A slightly unpleasant scent reached her nose, and she discreetly sniffed at her armpit, making a slight face.
What would they use here for deodorant? For all I know, they don't really have anything for that either.
She looked up at the group, remembering how horrid Kili's unwashed socks smelled in Meril's house when she had to remove his boots, and suddenly realized more of what traveling in Mirkwood would mean.
Great. Sweaty, grumpy dwarves that are going to stink to high heaven. And I'm not goint to smell all that good either, I think. And...giant...spiders...
Thoughts on the spiders made her shudder. She'd almost- almost- forgotten about them, but now memories of Shelob in the films made her start trembling as the blood drained from her face. In a theater or on a couch, a giant spider on screen was a little frightening but otherwise totally fine and no big deal. In person, however...
"-ra? Cira?" An arm rested on hers, and she snapped out of her thoughts with a gasp. A very concerned Bilbo was looking at her in confusion. "Are you all right? You went very pale for a minute there." She nodded, images of Shelob still going through her mind as she tried to calm her racing heart.
"I-I'm fine," she stammered out. Bilbo looked unconvinced. "I-I just had a memory of something that...that was a bit frightening, that's all. I'm fine, I swear." She smiled at him, and he looked closely at her.
"Are you certain?" he asked, and she nodded again. He still didn't look convinced, but he didn't press her, and she was very grateful.
Her thoughts again trailed toward the possibility of a steaming hot soak in the hot springs in an effort to forget about the spiders, and she could almost feel the water enveloping her as the heat soaked into her tired muscles. She glanced at the others as the slightest hint of amusement began to run through her.
I should probably go last, I think- otherwise the others will have to wait all night for me to get out! That is, if I ever do. I just may want to stay in there forever.
She knew that was impossible, but still...she had a sneaky suspicion it would take a lot more than a simple request to convince her to get out of that spring tonight, even if it meant sacrificing a little sleep in the process.
XXX
Bombur's stomach growled, and he watched the pot simmering, annoyed that it was taking so long to boil. As he waited impatiently, the rotund dwarf mixed up some biscuits and set aside some carrots and potatoes to go with the beans, which had soaked during their ride in the tightly covered pot.
Bifur was beside him humming. He had helped chop up the potatoes and carrots while Bombur mixed the biscuits, and was now fiddling with his little eagle toy. His eyes were lit up like a child who was offered many pieces of maple candy, and he looked toward Bombur.
"I wish I was an eagle," he said in Khuzdul dreamily. The rotund dwarf rolled his eyes as he began to form balls of dough in a second cast iron pot.
"We all know your brain is addled," he grumbled, having revisited this conversation many times before. "You're one crazy git. You're a dwarf, not an eagle, and that's never going to change- might as well get used to it." Bifur stopped making the eagle's wings flap and glanced up at the sky, paying no mind to his cousin's remark.
"That was wonderful, wasn't it?" he asked as he stared up into the night. "Being so high up on the back of the eagles, soaring through the clouds and seeing everything for miles round." Bombur huffed as he placed the iron oven on the fire.
"You were seeing everything for miles round," he retorted. "I was busy getting my arms yanked out of my shoulders the whole time!" Bofur chuckled from his bedroll, as did a few of the others.
"Now, now- just because you didn't get on the back of one," he said, his tone teasing as his eyes twinkled. Bombur tossed a bit of a stick at him, and the miner ducked.
"It's because you're so fat," Gloin muttered from across the fire. "You're too heavy for the backs of the eagles." He continued to sharpen his axe as chuckles sounded across the group.
"I still want to be an eagle," Bifur muttered as he stroked the wings of his toy. Bombur shook his head, sighing in defeat.
"Be whatever you want," he conceded. "As long as your boots stay on the ground, as a dwarf's should." Bifur glared at him, before returning to his bedroll in a huff. Checking once more on the biscuits and now warm beans, the rotund dwarf smiled, his mood suddenly improving.
"Supper's ready."
XXX
Fili got his bowl of beans and vegetables and a couple of biscuits, before heading back to his bedroll. His own stomach growling, he gladly sat down to eat. He glanced at his brother, who was eating as well, and sighed.
Kili had not spoken all day, and Fili knew he was very frustrated. He didn't blame him, all things considered, but he did wish he would find a way to accept Cira's apology and end their feud. He had seen her expression a few times while riding, and knew by now that she hadn't meant what she said and that her apology was genuine. Glancing up at her, he noticed she was very quiet just like his brother as she ate her supper, still looking hurt. Sighing again, he returned to his meal.
His eyes traveled across the group as he ate. Gloin was alternating between bites of his food and sharpening his axe. Oin had finished eating and was watching the ponies. Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur were sitting together, their argument now over as Bombur's attention was focused more on supper. Ori was glancing back and forth between his bowl and his journal, no doubt wishing to do his entry for the day as soon as he was done eating.
His eyes landed on Nori, and he did a double take. Watching him for a moment, he suddenly realized why the former thief had caught his attention. Nori kept glancing at his elder brother, then back at his bowl, then at Dori again, an odd glint in his eye that Fili recognized all too well.
He's up to something.
Suddenly the elder dwarf's eyes widened and he bolted upright with a shout. Nori dissolved into chortles as the white haired dwarf began hopping around and clutching at the back of his tunic, swearing hard enough to have his ears firmly boxed by a dwarrowdam. The rest of the company burst out laughing at the comical movements of the elder dwarf.
"Damn it, Nori!" he cried out, clawing at his back as he glared at the red haired dwarf. "Get this thing out of my tunic!" Nori looked up at him in mock innocence, though his eyes were still damp with tears.
"Why, brother, I have no idea what you mean," he replied, earning him a firm glare even as the other was still moving about erratically.
"You know damn well what I mean!" he growled. Suddenly, a grasshopper jumped out of his collar, landing squarely in their supper pot. Bombur's eyes grew wide as he jumped up to retrieve the squirming insect from the pot as Bofur chortled beside him.
"It's just a little extra meat," he said, earning a glare from the rotund dwarf, which only served to increase his chortles until he gasped for air.
Dori turned toward Nori, who immediately shot to his feet.
"I need to visit the bushes!" he said hurriedly, before making a quick exit to the trees. Dori glared at his retreating back, before sighing in defeat and stomping back to his bedroll looking very much like a surly dwarfling. Ori attempted to stop chortling, but his attempts proved unsuccessful, and it was several minutes before the laughter finally subsided.
Fili chuckled as well, before turning back toward his bowl. He glanced again at his brother, before frowning at the complete lack of amusement in the young dwarf's features. Setting his now empty bowl down, he gently nudged his brother's shoulder.
"Kee?" he asked in a low voice. "Are you all right?" The younger looked up at him, and Fili didn't need to be told the answer. The young heir looked his brother in the eye, then glanced toward the trees, then back at Kili, who nodded in understanding.
The pair got up, and Fili grabbed a soap bar from his pack. Thorin glanced up at them with a question in his eyes when they began to leave the camp, and the young heir silently held up the bar of soap. The dwarf king nodded in recognition, and the pair headed into the forest toward the sound of gurgling water.
As they sank into the hot water, Fili turned toward his brother.
"What's wrong, Kee?" he asked as he began to lather up. The young dwarf sighed deeply, before looking off into the distance.
"I can't get any time alone," he finally said after a moment, his tone clearly very frustrated. "I was hoping...that I could think during these few days, but then..." He trailed off, and Fili nodded.
"You had to ride with her," he finished, sighing. Tossing the soap to his brother, he began to unbraid his hair, setting the clasps on a rock beside the spring. His brother soon tossed the soap back to him, and he lathered up his hair in silence.
Most of the dwarves they were around weren't aware of it, but Fili knew his brother was far more introverted than most gave him credit for. When he was comfortable around others, he'd open up. And if he was in a very formal situation, he could play the part of a Prince of Erebor and Thorin's heir and be social if he needed to. But the blonde haired prince knew that his brother preferred being alone by himself more than others realized, especially when something was troubling him.
"Have you figured out what you are going to do?" he asked after rinsing his hair. Kili shook his head, before swallowing heavily.
"No," he said quietly as he rubbed soap suds along his arms. "I-I can't think if...if I'm riding with her. I-I don't know what to do. I can't let her know, but, Fee...how am I supposed to be friends with her without her finding out?" The elder sighed, trying to think himself.
"Do you remember what it was like before?" he asked after a moment, waiting until Kili had rinsed his hair before continuing. "When she first joined us?" He nodded, his shoulders slumping.
"Aye," he replied, sighing. "I-I don't know exactly when I...when I started having feelings for her, but..." He trailed off, and Fili continued.
"Perhaps...perhaps you can just be like that again," he suggested. "You were friends before, and you still are even now. You can do that again, can't you?" Kili looked up at him, his eyes wide as frustration showed on his face.
"But I can't," he argued. "I-it can't be like it was before." Fili sat up from where he'd been lounging in the hot water.
"Why not?" he asked. Kili's eyes widened, before he looked away, and Fili saw his cheeks redden beyond that caused by the hot water.
"B-because, I..." he began. "Because...I don't know if-if I can hide my face from her." Fili's eyes widened in realization as Kili's shoulder's slumped in defeat.
His emotions have always shown on his face.
"D-do you think she's good at reading expressions?" he asked, and Kili shrugged.
"I don't know," he said, before looking up at his brother, his eyes misty. "Fee, I- I'm not like other dwarves. I can't hide my feelings in my face. You know that. I'm not sto-" Fili's jaw tightened, and he grabbed his brother's shoulders and looked him straight in the eye.
"Kee, you are a dwarf through and through," he said firmly. "You know that. I know you're not as good at hiding your feelings, but that does not make you any less of a dwarf." Kili nodded, and Fili sighed, before placing his forehead on his brother's.
"Kildár, you know I would never lie to you," he said quietly. "Please don't think yourself as less than a dwarf just because you wear your heart on your sleeve. Take all the time you need to think, and if you ever need to talk, you know where I'm at." Kili nodded gratefully as he grasped his brother's arm.
"I know, nadad." Fili nodded, before letting go. Standing up, he exited the spring and grabbed one of his spare blankets to dry off before dressing, wishing he hadn't lost his clean spare clothes in Goblin Town.
"Best be getting back," he commented as Kili dried himself off as well and got dressed. "I'm sure the others want to soak for a bit as well, and we shouldn't hog the bath all night. I think we'll have a melee on our hands if we do." He smirked, winking at his brother as he pulled on his boots. For the first time in days, a slight smile graced his brother's face as well as put his jerkin back on, and Fili felt relief course through him.
"I'm sure you'll figure it out soon, brother," he said, clasping the younger's shoulder. Kili nodded, gratefulness in his eyes.
"Thank you, Fee," he said quietly, and Fili smiled.
"Anytime, nadadith."
XXX
Cirashala's bath had felt absolutely wonderful, and she stayed in until her fingers and toes were pruny. She hadn't realized just how long she'd soaked until a very embarrassed Balin finally stumbled out from behind his tree with his hand over his eyes, asking her if she was all right and nearly slipping into the water himself by accident.
Apparently he'd tried calling out to her before, but her ears had been under water when he did and she hadn't heard him. After her heart returned to where it belonged, having launched into her throat from his unexpected startle, she reassured him she was just fine and watched with a mix of amusement and nervousness as he tried to walk away with his hand still over his eyes and ran smack into a tree. Thankfully, her bath finished without incident amid a few creative curses sounding from behind the tree where Balin had stationed himself to guard her from accidental intrusion.
She now laid on her bedroll with her arms behind her head, staring up at the starry night sky. Most of the others had all gone to sleep, and she marveled at all the stars glittering in the heavens.
I haven't seen this many stars in such a long time.
Crickets sounded in the meadow, filling the night air with their song. She heard some shuffling and an irritated sigh, and glanced to the side as Bilbo turned over and looked at her.
"You too?" he asked, and she nodded regretfully.
"Bombur's snoring so loudly that I can't sleep," he said, sighing in frustration as he flopped back onto his makeshift pillow.
"Same here," she replied, yawning. "I hope it doesn't last too long." Bilbo yawned as well.
"It shouldn't," he said. "He usually quits after a little while." He glanced at her from the side.
"What are you looking at?" he asked, and she glanced up at the sky above them.
"The stars," she said. "There are so many of them." Bilbo smiled, before following her gaze.
"There are too many lights in the Shire to see them well, unless you stay up all night," he remarked. "Hobbits tend to light their doorways with lanterns at night so visitors can find their way home in the dark." She nodded.
"There were too many lights in my town too," she replied. "They seem to twinkle in the sky."
"Almost like fireflies," he said, smiling.
"I wouldn't know," Cira responded, and Bilbo looked at her curiously.
"You've never seen fireflies?" he asked, and she shook her head.
"Not where I've lived," she replied. "I was usually inside after dark." She looked up at the sky again.
"It almost looks like the stars are diamonds sparkling in a stone ceiling to me," she said after a moment. "I thought they were white, but they don't look like it now-more like white sparkling with different colors, like a diamond does when the sunlight catches it." Bilbo stared at her in slight bewilderment, and she returned his gaze in equal confusion.
"What?" she asked, and he shook his head.
"I'd expect one of them to say that," he said, gesturing over his shoulder toward the sleeping dwarves. "But not you." Her brow furrowed in confusion.
"Why not?" she asked, frowning.
"Because it seems like something a dwarf would say, I suppose," Bilbo replied. He laid back and sighed, searching the sky for a moment before pointing to the brightest star.
"Do you know what Gandalf told me today?" he asked. She shook her head, following his gaze. "He said that a man asked the Valar for aid long ago to help the elves and men win a terrible war, and as part of the agreement, he now rides a chariot across the night sky with a Silmaril on it, and always will. See that bright one? That's the star right there." She looked up, remembering the story Bilbo spoke of from The Silmarillion.
"His name was Eärendil, right?" she asked, and Bilbo nodded, before pausing and looking at her in surprise.
"Wait- you know the story?" he asked, and she nodded.
"I've heard it before, long ago," she said quietly. Her eyes moved toward the moon, which had just begun to rise above the top of the treeline above them. Her eyes widened as she stared at the bright white orb.
Wow, it's huge! And absolutely breathtakingly beautiful.
"Wow," she whispered, and Bilbo looked at her in surprise.
"What is it?" he asked, following her gaze. She pointed toward the bright moon.
"It's so big," she said, her voice filled with wonder as she gazed upon it. "It's...really beautiful, isn't it?" Bilbo's brow furrowed in confusion.
"It's no bigger than it always has been," he said. She looked at him, then back up at the moon.
"I don't know," she said quietly. "Somehow, it just..seems bigger, I guess." Bilbo smiled.
"It is beautiful," he agreed. He frowned, then tilted his head toward the rotund dwarf for a moment.
"I think Bombur finally stopped snoring," he whispered, before looking back at the young woman, yawning. "I think we should go to sleep now." She nodded, yawning herself.
"Goodnight, Bilbo," she whispered, snuggling into her spare blanket serving as a pillow. He smiled, before turning over and pulling his blanket up around his shoulders.
"Goodnight, Cira."
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A response to guest reviewer Guest: You're welcome :) He is inconsistent, which is why I preferred to characterize him with his "non-Tauriel" personality for my story ;) You're welcome. I like to think of fan fiction as "meat on the skeleton of the actual story", as it were. The books/films are the skeleton (more book than film in many ways), and the "rules" of the world cannot be changed. Fan fiction is taking the bones of the story and adding flesh while still keeping true to the characters and the world being written about, if that makes sense.
So when I write, I do extensive research to make sure I keep those "bones" intact :) As for the films, I agree 100%- they moved way too fast in BO5A especially, but a bit in DOS too (the EE helps with that, but still). They don't give time for good characterization moments because of the poor pacing. But thankfully it had phenomenal actors who constantly stayed in character even off-camera (in the sense that the camera wasn't focused on them but rather they were in the background) so watching them closely helps. Fan fiction isn't a novel format- more like a serial, I'd say- but thanks :) And I shall try :)
Many thanks to all who review, favorite, and follow- you guys are awesome! :D :D :D