To Look Beyond the Mask (PART 2)

by tweetzone86

"Your people had their home stolen and their people killed. They were forced to wander starving in exile, reduced to blacksmiths. They were rejected by elves and scorned by men. Now your uncle tries to reclaim your homeland and seek justice for the wrongs committed against your people. I don't care if you are elves, hobbits, humans, or dwarves. I WILL not stand for injustice."

30. Chapter 30

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.

My apologies for the short chapter- this is what I have written right now, but as I'm getting queries as to whether or not I'm still alive, I'll go ahead with the short chapter just this once and next one will be much longer, I promise! :D

Quick note- my apologies for any delays in the story for the next couple of months. It's spring on a quarter acre mini-farm, which means that I've been working my rear end off (likely literally lol) in my garden completely rebuilding the entire thing (by hand, using a shovel and cinder blocks- almost 300 of them), replacing two out of three fences for my yard totaling nearly 200 feet (61.5 m), planting about 10 fruit trees, about 15 berry bushes, 60 raspberries, 75 strawberries, etc. So updates will be infrequent for a month or two until things are all built and trees, berries, seeds, etc are in the ground. I intensive garden, so my yields are equal to that for an acre or two plus orchard on a conventional farm. So springtime and various points during summer and fall (harvest times, depending on the item) will cause delays in the story. However, I AM going to finish it and work on it when I have spare time. But as I've been outside with my shovel and sod-cutter for several hours every day it doesn't rain lately (and getting up at 4:45-5 am and in bed by 8 every night), please be patient with me until I can find the time to write :)

Please review- I love them! They keep me encouraged! :D

Cirashala's eyes widened in panic. The knowledge that it would do absolutely no good against a rotted oak branch didn't even enter her mind as she instinctively threw her arms over her head. Her eyes shut tightly as she awaited the crushing blow from above, terror coursing through her veins, then things began to happen very fast.

The young woman's eyes flew open as she was suddenly struck from the side with a force so strong that it knocked her feet out from under her. The forest began flying as a crushing weight squeezed her body, yet she still felt weightless as her feet kicked air and the baskets on her shoulders were thrown from her body. Her mouth opened to scream as she hit the ground not once, but twice, but no sound came out. Black spots danced in her vision, but her lungs could not seem to get enough air no matter how much she tried. Suddenly the movement ceased with a loud splash and searing pain through her shoulders.

Her eyes opened slowly as her heart raced, and all she was aware of was sodden cloth and hair in her face. Shouts sounded, but the words were muffled by the water in her ears, and she quickly realized she was lying in a puddle. She went to turn her head, and felt the slight scratch of a very, very short beard on her forehead.

Short beard?

Groaning, she tried to speak, but no words came out as she gasped for air. The weight on top of her shifted, and suddenly her eyes met familiar brown ones.

"Cira?" Kili cried, his eyes wide with terror as he stared down at her. "Are you all right?" The young woman blinked in shock as she stared up at him, before realization hit her.

He pushed me out of the way.

She nodded numbly as she stared in shock at the dwarf above her, her heart still racing with terror. Several shouts sounded, and the pair turned and looked as the elder prince scrambled over the giant fallen branch, terror in his own eyes as the others behind him followed suit.

"Kili? Are you all right?" he cried, rushing to his brother's side. Kili nodded, his eyes not leaving the young woman beneath him. Dwalin suddenly appeared as well, and he, along with Fili, helped the younger dwarf to his feet. An arm slipped beneath her own shoulders as Bofur helped her up, the miner looking very worried as well as he steadied her.

A shout sounded off to the side as another loud crack sounded, and Cirashala looked over to see Dori yank his youngest brother out of the way of another fallen branch. Lightning streaked across the sky as the rain came down harder, and another branch in the distance fell to the ground.

"We must find shelter!" Thorin shouted above the storm. The burly dwarf immediately let go of Kili's arm and ran past the dwarf king, before looking out in the distance.

"I see something!" he shouted after a few seconds. He turned back toward the company and pointed up the path ahead. "Over there!"

"Move!" Thorin shouted. "Come on!" Another lightning bolt shot across the sky above, and the company immediately started running after Dwalin as fast as the path would allow.

Kili's gaze met hers, all animosity gone as he quickly reached out and gently but firmly grabbed her hand. She didn't even have time to wonder why as he immediately turned and followed the others, taking her with him. The pair raced up the path, quickly passing the others as they ran toward the shelter Dwalin found. Branches continued to creak and groan above her, and her mind was no longer on her skinned knees or the twigs and leaves blowing in her face. Cirashala's eyes widened as she stumbled along the path, terror filling her once more.

Please let us all get there safely.

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A response to guest reviewer Kaia- Will do! ;)

A response to the guest reviewer who reviewed part one 3/31/2016- Cira isn't the only one injured and getting hurt, as you will find when you continue reading. As for not getting past Goblintown by ch 44, I'm preferring to NOT do a super fast pace but rather allowing the reader to immerse in the story and savor it. Sorry if the fast pace is what you want, but if that's the case then TLBTM is probably not a good story for you. I HATED the super fast pace of the movies, especially in the second two, and am trying to rectify that in this story.

A response to guest reviewer Guest (4/7/16)- Thanks :) You are very welcome :)

A response to guest reviewer GenovaQueenBee- I'm sorry I've been away for so long. Still working outside trying to get my garden/mini farm up and running. I'll try to be more consistent about updating, but please don't expect frequent updates until after everything's built and planted. Hopefully things will slow down soon :)

Thanks to all who review, favorite, and follow- please keep the reviews coming! :D :D :D