Hey guys! I don't know if anyone is still reading thbis, but Chapter 5 is FINALLY up! I am so so so sorry with how long this has been. I have had problems with losing like the rest of the chapters I already had saved, and then losing inspiration to continue with it, but it's back now and I'm back on track with this one. Hope you will continue to read and enjoy this
Also, I have edited the previous chapters, nothing too much, just a few mistakes here and there. And, I've for those that have already read the previous chapters, I have decided to use Icelandic as the Arcanian native tongue. I'm using Google Translate for the translations, but if I get anything wrong, please let me know xx
Chapter 5
After clambering down the rock, Gandalf frees Thorin, leaving the knife with him, before going over to help the dwarves above the fire. After pulling himself from the sack, he instantly kneels besides me and cuts the rope at the neck.
"Are you alright?" he asks me as I wriggle out.
I smile at him as I take the knife and free Shana. "I'm fine, Thorin."
He nods in relief before getting another knife and freeing the others. Once Shana is free and standing, I pull her to me. I hold her close as I feel her trembling slightly.
"I never want to go through that again." she says into my shoulder.
"I know, kultaseni. Me neither."
After kissing her head, I walk over to Bilbo and free him.
"That was some quick thinking, Bilbo. I'm sorry I didn't help until the last moment."
He smiles at me. "No worries. I just heard them talking about the sun and turning to stone and knew I had to do something."
I smile as I place a hand on his shoulder. "Well, thank you for saving us. Very much appreciated."
He smiles back as I turn away and walk over to the weapons and frown after picking my staff up to see a crack through the middle, almost cut right through. I must have swung it too hard at the thick trolls. Using the ground to help, I push on the staff to fully break it and smile, knowing that some of the children can use them for practice.
Once the others are ready, Thorin calls for half of us to follow him to find a troll cave, while the others go back to camp to retrieve our belongings. Turning to Shana as she's going to camp, I pass her the two staff halves, asking her to attach them onto our horses saddles. She nods as she walks on with Fili, Kili, Bifur, Bombur, Oin and Ori.
The rest of us walk on to find the cave, which our noses find it before our eyes do. I put my hand over my nose and mouth as I follow Gandalf into the cave, hearing Thorin, Nori, Bofur and Gloin, who followed us, coughing in disgust behind us.
"Oh, what's that stench?!" Nori asks.
"It's a troll hoard. Be careful what you touch." Gandalf explains.
Inside, we find piles of gold coins, jewels, clothing and many different weapons. I do wonder what happened to the poor people these items belonged too and hoped they didn't suffer too much.
"Seems a shame just to leave it lyin' around. Anyone could take it."
Looking to Bofur's voice, I see him toeing some of the gold.
"Agreed. Nori, get a shovel." Gloin says to Nori.
I fondly roll my eyes as I make my way to some barrels that hold different sizes of swords. I rummage through, moving aside for Thorin as he comes by. He also begins looking through and picks up two swords tp examine them.
"These swords were not made by any troll." Thorin says.
Thorin hands the bigger sword to Gandalf and keeps the other one.
"They weren't made by men either, or my people." I comment as I look over a pair of twin blades.
The blades I hold have a plain white wooden handle, the metal sheaths having flower designs running down it. Putting one down, I remove the other from it's sheath and see the blade curves slightly in the middle, ending with a sharp point. There's also a vine carved into it.
"These were forged in Gondolin, the High Elves of the First Age." Gandalf's voice pulls me out of my examinations.
I look to him in surprise. "Really? So long ago? They look freshly made!"
He grins. "Elven blades normally do, my dear."
I smile and look to Thorin to see him putting his sword back in disgust. I reach out and place a hand on his arm to stop him, causing him to look at me.
"You couldn't wish for a better blade, Thorin. Trust me."
He continues to look at me as I remove my arm before he draws the blade from the sheathe and look it over. I notice that his blade looks almost similar to the two I picked out. Picking up the other blade, I look them both over before smiling and after finding a couple of decent belts, begin to leave. I see Dwalin standing by the mouth of the cave, watching the other three dwarves digging a hole before burying a chest of gold.
"We're making a long term deposit." Gloin says as he notices the both of us watching.
I roll my eyes again with a smile and look to Thorin as he makes his way over.
"Let's get out of this foul place." He reaches me and puts a hand on my back, gently pushing me on. "Come on. Bofur, Gloin, Nori."
I follow Dwalin out of the cave and now in the sunlight, I look over the blades again. On one sheath, I can see the flowers are bluebells and roses, meaning kindness and love. On the other are poppies and a star shaped flower. Poppies symbolising the loss of a loved one, while the star flower reminds me of the blue star flowers we have growing around our home in Rivendell, which symbolise strength, determination and endurance. I give a small smile at both swords before looking around and spotting Shana with Fili and Kili, I walk over.
"Shana."
She looks up and smiles at me before noticing the blades in my hands.
"New swords?" she asks.
I nod and pass her the one that has the bluebells and roses. She looks at it before looking to me.
"For me?"
I nod with a smile and she takes it before looking over the sheathe.
"Bluebells and roses?"
"Yes. I figured their meanings would be perfect for you."
"Meanings?" Kili asks.
I nod. "All flowers have meanings. Bluebells is kindness while roses are love. Shana is always kind to everyone and is more of a lover than a fighter."
Shana blushes at the compliment. "Motheeeer. . ."
I smile as I kiss her head. "Everyone at home will agree with me, Sparrow. I know you've had some self confidence issues with not wanting to fight, but still wanting to at the same time, but there's nothing wrong with that. I know, that if it came to it, you would fight for those that you love and for the innocent. You already proved it with those bandits a week ago. So, hold your chin up, stand tall and strong and own who you are."
"But, Dequan says-"
"Don't you mind what he says. He's just jealous because you're younger than him and can still beat him in a duel. Don't stop being who you are, and just know, I will always be proud of you, just as I know your mother and father will be."
She tears up at this and holds me close. "Thank you, mother. I love you."
I smile as I wrap my arms around her and kiss her head again. "I love you, too, elskan."
We pull away after a few moments and she just smiles at me before looking over her sword.
"What's on your sword, Kana?" Fili asks.
"Poppies and I believe blue star flowers."
"Their meaning?"
"Poppy is loss and blue star is strength." Shana answers as she looks at me with a small smile. "Another perfect blade, mother. After all the loss you've been through, you certainly had the strength to pull through."
I give her a small smile in return. "I had to. I had responsibilities and others who depended on me."
"Kind of like uncle." Kili says as he looks behind us.
We turn to see him standing with Dwalin and Balin and I have to agree. He and I have certainly been through our share of loss and pain far too soon in life. I can only hope that this can be the beginning of repairing our lives and moving on, especially after finding out what this quest is about. To reclaim their home, our home. . .I can only hope.
There's a sudden rustling not far away.
"Something's coming!" Thorin calls out.
"Arm yourselves! Hurry now!" Gandalf orders.
Drawing my sword, Shana, the brothers and I follow the others to where the disturbance is. I get there as a sled suddenly emerges from the bushes, a sled drawn by large rabbits and what looks to be a wizard dressed in brown. He pulls up short by us.
"Thieves! Fire! Murder!"
"Radagast! Radagast the Brown. Ah. What on earth are you doing here?"
I breathe a sigh of relief as I lower my sword down at his words. This is the brown wizards Gandalf had told us about.
"I was looking for you, Gandalf. Something's wrong. Something's terribly wrong."
"Yes?"
Radagast opens his mouth to speak, but shuts it. He opens his mouth again, but closes it again. He has forgotten what he was going to say.
"Oh, just give me a minute. Um, oh, I had a thought, and now I've lost it. It was, it was right there, on the tip of my tongue." He curls up his tongue, and looks surprised. "Oh, it's not a thought at all; it's a silly old. . ." Gandalf pulls a stick insect out of Radagast's mouth. "-stick insect!"
As the two wizards go off to talk, I help Shana with one of the belts and strapping her new sword to it, before doing the same with the one I have.
Not long after, there's a howl on the air, I growl as I take out my bow, an arrow notched onto it. I know those howls anywhere.
"Was that a wolf? Are there-are there wolves out there?" Bilbo asks, sounding afraid.
"No, that is not a wolf." Bofur says, fear in his voice.
Hearing a growl and the snap of a twig, I look up to see a warg appearing over a nearby crag, charging towards Dori. I loose my arrow at it, hitting it in the shoulder, causing it to stumble to the side, right in the path of Thorin, who takes it out with his new sword. Spotting another warg, I quickly shoot it, Kili's arrow joining mine and letting Dwalin finish it off. Gandalf and Radagast step behind me.
"Warg-Scouts! Which means an Orc pack is not far behind!" Thorin exclaims. .
"Orc pack?" Bilbo asks.
I put a comforting hand on his shoulder as I hear the fear.
Gandalf looks to Thorin. "Who did you tell about your quest, beyond your kin?"
"No one."
"Who did you tell?"
"No one, I swear. What in Durin's name is going on?"
"You are being hunted." Gandalf informs him.
"We have to get out of here." Dwlain states.
"We can't!" Ori rushes over with Bifur, "We have no ponies; they bolted."
"Starlight. . ."
Hearing the terror in her voice, I turn to Shana and take her shoulders.
"She'll be fine. She and Snowflake know the way home. They'll lead the ponies there."
She nods as she leans into me, allowing me to comfort her.
"I'll draw them off." Radagast offers.
I turn to him in horror and surprise. "These are Gundabad Wargs; they will outrun you!"
He looks to me, indicating the rabbits behind him. "These are Rhosgobel Rabbits; I'd like to see them try."
Still not sure, I turn to Gandalf and after a few moments, he nods.
"Alright. Good luck, Radagast."
The brown wizard nods as he gets on his sled and the rabbits tear off. After getting all of our packs, we follow Gandalf as he leads us towards the edge of the forest we are in. Peering through the trees, I watch as the sled crashes through at a high speed, the wargs and orcs giving chase.
"Come and get me! Ha ha!" I hear Radagast shouta at them.
I have to admit, those rabbits are pretty fast. Maybe he will be alright after all.
"Come on!" Gandalf exclaims.
We rush across a rocky plain. In the distance, Radagast is being chased by the Wargs. As we run across the plain, we see the Wargs not too far from us, so we hide behind the rocks. Once they move away, we run on.
"Stay together."
"Move!" Thorin yells.
As the chase continues, Thorin stops behind a rock so that he is not seen by the Wargs. I stop behind him, but Ori starts to run out of the cover.
"Ori, no! Come back!" I exclaim, reaching out and grab the back of his collar and pull him back to us, I keep an arm around him until we are in the clear.
Gandalf waves us on. "Come on! Quick!"
As the dwarves continue running, Thorin turns to Gandalf.
"Where are you leading us?"
Looking up at Gandalf, I give him a pointed look as I realise where he is leading us. He just ignores us as he moves on, leaving Thorin to roll his eyes in frustration as he takes my hand and we follow.
As we run, we take cover behind an outcropping of rock. I hear one of the scouts and his Warg on top of the outcropping, scenting the air. Thorin looks to Kili, Shana and I, nodding towards our bows. Readying an arrow, I look to the pair of them, who are also ready to go. I mouth a countdown from three before we step out and shoot at the warg and orc. Managing to get an arrow into the neck of the warg, it topples over, causing both creatures to fall to the ground where Dwalin and Bifur take them out. Unfortunately, this isn't done quietly, there's not doubts the orcs and wargs are going to be able to hear this, and I'm right as we hear the pack howling, the howls moving in this direction.
"Move. Run!" Gandalf yells.
We run through a grassy plain, but soon have to stop as some of the wargs have gone on ahead to block us.
"There they are!" Gloin shouts, pointing ahead.
"This way! Quickly!" Gandalf leads us another way and we follow.
We run for a while longer, then halt in a clearing, by some rocky outposts, which I instantly recognise as the hidden entrance into the valley.
"There's more coming!" Kili informs us.
"Kili, Kana, Shana! Shoot them!" Thorin orders us.
The three of us stand at different spots where we can take out the pack.
"We're surrounded!" Fili yells.
"Where is Gandalf?" Dori asks.
"He has abandoned us!" Dwalin rages.
Nearby, I see Ori using his slingshot at a warg, which has no effect, the orc sneering and laughing at him. I instantly go to Ori to protect him, moving him back into the middle of the dwarves.
"Hold your ground!" I hear Thorin call out.
"This way, you fools!" I suddenly hear Gandalf's voice.
Looking back, I see him dropping down into the secret entrance to Rivendell. Thorin hops up onto a boulder just before it.
"Come on, move! Quickly, all of you! Go, go, go!"
I push Ori on to follow the others, turning back to shoot at the oncoming orcs and wargs. I quickly run over to Kili and Shana, killing a warg that is in Kili's blind spot. I push him back towards the cave, shooting at another orc heading for Shana.
"Kili! Shana! Get down there!" I order them as I continue to shoot.
"We're not leaving you alone, mother!" Shana yells at me, with Kili agreeing.
"Go! Now! I'll cover you both!"
They both look hesitant but they do as I say and run towards the cave. I back up slightly as I'm shooting, seeing the wargs getting closer.
"Kana! Run!" I hear Thorin shout.
Taking one more shot at the closest warg, I turn towards the rock, and run, taking Thorin's hand before we both slide down together.
Just as our feet hit the ground, we look up as a horn blows. I breathe a sigh of relief; Elrond's patrol has arrived. We listen to the fight above and I know the orcs are being easily taken out by the elves. A few seconds later, Thorin pulls me into him as an orc falls down into the hole with us, an elven arrow sticking out of it's chest.
"Elves." Thorin says as he inspects the arrow.
I notice he and Gandalf glancing at each other, and I know Thorin isn't too happy, maybe he knows where we are but doesn't want to believe it.
"I cannot see where the pathway leads. Do we follow it or no?" Dwalin's voice suddenly speaks up.
"Follow it, of course!" Bofur says as he hurries on.
The others follow, no doubt wanting to get away from the tension.
Gandalf agrees "I think that would be wise."
Pushing myself from the wall, I hold Shana as she rushes to me. This is her first encounter with orcs and wargs, so I know this must have shaken her up.
"Are you alright?" I ask her.
She nods as I feel her trembling, even more than she did with the trolls. "Yes. I remember the horrors you spoke with orcs, I had hoped to never see one in my life. . .I don't like them."
I give a small chuckle as I kiss her brow. "I know, pikkuinen, I don't like them either."
She takes a deep breath before I gently push her on towards Fili and Kili who walk with her, keeping her in between them. I smile as I take Thorin's hand.
"Is she alright?" he asks in concern.
"She'll be fine. That was her first orc encounter, having heard stories of them before. . .it shook her up a little."
He nods as he presses me on ahead of him. "The first is always the worst."
I just nod in agreement as I walk on. As we are going through the tunnel, it suddenly narrows until we have to walk single file down, some of the larger dwarves having to be pushed through. I smile as I feel the familiar magic of Rivendell coursing through me. Ahead of me, Shana looks back and smiles at me, also being able to feel it As Dwalin announces there is light up ahead, the dwarves pace picks up.
The pathway eventually opens out into an open area; there is a valley below, and in that valley is the city of Rivendell. I smile as I look over it, the beauty fo the valley never fails to take my breath away. I turn my gaze to the nearby forest, where our people have claimed as their home.
I stand proudly as I look over my home, smiling as Shana snuggles into my side. I put an arm around her shoulder and pull her close.
"The Valley of Imraldis. In the Common Tongue, it's known by another name." Gandalf say as he arrives.
"Rivendell." I hear Bilbo breathe out in awe, which makes me smile more.
"Here lies the last Homely House east of the sea."
Thorin stomps up to Gandalf. "This was your plan all along, to seek refuge with our enemy."
"You have no enemies here, Thorin Oakenshield. The only ill-will to be found in this valley is that which you bring yourself."
"You think the Elves will give our quest their blessing? They will try to stop us."
"Of course they will. But we have questions that need to be answered. If we are to be successful, this will need to be handled with tact and respect and no small degree of charm. Which is why you will leave the talking to me, Kana or Shana, as this is also their home too."
I inwardly groan to myself, thankful I had already told Thorin our people had made a home here. I ignore the looks of the other dwarves before I begin making my way down the side of the mountain towards the valley, not looking forward to this meeting.
There we have it, the company are now in Rivendell! Hope you all enjoyed this chapter!
Translations;
kultaseni- sweetheart
pikkuinen – little one