Hey everyone, I'm sorry for such a large gap between updates. It'll be a bit slow until finals are done, though I do have a whole notebook full of the chapters to come! Just so you know, this story won't be following the original story line at some point. I'll be taking it off in a new direction with the same goal in mind. They will still be going to Erebor, they'll just go about it in a different way then the book or the movie, if that bothers some people then you might not want to read on but if you're up for creative intervention I'm sure it will be an exciting ride!
Bilbo pulled a log over and sat me down on it, chattering about how exhausted I must be and oh! We must have that injury looked at, you poor soul!
I laughed in my head at the silliness of it all. The log was small and close to the ground and while this may not have been a problem for a hobbit, or even a dwarf, it had my long legs bent and crunched against my chest awkwardly. I'm sure it was a sight to see and my thoughts were confirmed when Fili and Kili spotted me and broke into a fit of laughter. Bilbo didn't seem to notice as he went to fetch something to clean the cut on my head.
Kili came over to where I was while Fili went to fetch me a taller seat. He found a large log and brought it over, sitting it next to me.
"That ought to work a bit nicer," He beamed, brushing the bark off his hands. I tried getting up, shifting my weight to my legs, which were tight against my chest.
"I'm sure that it is a lovely seat and I would gladly use it only I can't get out of the set I'm already in!" I wiggled trying to free my legs. The two brothers laughed and grabbed either of my arms tugging me up. I nearly flew past them with the force they used. I let out a little yelp as I tried to steady myself. All of the dwarves found this incredibly amusing and laughed at my uncoordination.
"You're like a little feather!" Laughed Kili. "You just fly through the air like it's nothing!" He teased. I laughed with him.
"Yeah, well, that's just about all I'm good at," I told him jokingly. Everyone was laughing as Bilbo came back with a bowl of hot water and a rag.
"What's with all this laughter? Stop tossing her around! She's injured, for heaven's sake!" He pushed the brothers aside and sat me down, luckily, on the new log. He tilted my head so the injury was facing him, tsked, and then proceeded to dab away at the dried blood.
"You're a very brave woman, miss Sharae," he mused, washing out the cloth and returning to the cut. "Gathering up a grungy bunch like us and taking on those orks like you did," he finished. I smiled to myself.
"I was only doing what anyone else would," I pointed out, "It's only natural to help someone you see is in need," I continued. Bilbo smiled crookedly.
"It was brave all the same, Sharae," A loud voice interrupted him.
"That's right, thanks for saving our tails!" Kili beamed, Fili nodding beside him. The rest of the group joined in with their gratitude, the atmosphere turning rather joyous. Bilbo finished cleaning up the side of my head. Balin came up to me after Bilbo went off to wash out the bowl.
"I think your head's taken quite a shaking, lass, you might want to take it easy for a while yet," In translation I supposed he meant that I'd received a concussion, which I had assumed earlier. The confirmation of my assumptions didn't make me feel any better about it though. Balin shifted my hair away from the wound "That cut will heal with a little time, it's not very deep." He grinned. Bilbo showed up again, sitting on the short log I'd previously inhabited.
"Thank you so much for your help, Bilbo. I appreciate it very much," I smiled gratefully at him. Before Bilbo could reply Bombur interrupted.
"So if you're not from Middle Earth, lass, then where do you hail from?" He asked, intensely curious. I knew the questions would pop up eventually so I wasn't too put off by his curiosity. I just wondered how in the world I would explain alternate dimensions to a company of dwarves. The only one I thought who could possibly comprehend my situation was Gandalf. The dwarves sat in obvious interest waiting for my story. I sighed, figuring I'd just explain the best I could and if they didn't understand, too bad for them.
"Well, I… I'm from a place called Earth," The group had a collective blank stare, "Uhm… from North America," I tried, of course there was still no recognition in the dwarves expressions, "In the United States? In Utah?" They still looked confused. I wasn't exactly surprised by their lack of understanding, more I was stumped as to how I could explain anything if they didn't even know the place I was speaking of existed. I sighed and moved on, "I'm not even from this time. In my world we're, like, thousands of years ahead of this time!" They'd understood that much and they balked at the idea.
"That's impossible." Growled Dwalin
"She's crazy, I knew it!" Grumbled Gloin.
Thorin's glare deepened while Gandalf's eyes widened in understanding. I continued.
"There aren't any dwarves, elves, hobbits or wizards, those types of things only exist in books in my world!" I exclaimed as the dwarves stared at me in shock. Gandalf gave me a questioning look.
"if you'be never seen a wizard, or a dwarf, or a hobbit, my dear, then how do you know that those are the beings that stand before you now?" He raised a grey eyebrow.
Oh man, I'd opened a can of worms…
I drew in a breath to begin explaining but let it out with a sigh, now knowing how to say it.
Thorin had been growing wearier by the moment and he glared, stalking towards me and folding his arms in contempt.
"Tell us what we need to know, woman," He threatened. Gandalf briskly interrupted him, trying to keep the mood from souring.
"If you would, Lady Sharae, could you tell us how it is you seem to know of our company and those in it before we could tell you ourselves?" He asked knowingly. The other dwarves looked around to each other, questioning what he meant by "already knowing" about the company.
I looked at him with wide eyes. How had he known? I was sure I hadn't let anything of my knowledge slip. He continued to look into my eyes with wisdom beyond the years. I cleared my mind of the confusion. Of course he knew. He was Gandalf. I was not on Earth anymore and the fact that this wizard could see through my mask should come as no surprise to me. I looked back at him intently, showing that I understood what he was asking.
"Are you sure you want me to tell you what I know?" I tested. Gandalf's eyes remained intent as he nodded in assurance. I sighed again; this was going to cause a ruckus.
"Well, the truth is, I already know the story of this company," I paused, "From beginning to end, matter of fact," I concluded. Stares of wonder and confusion were shared. A few scoffs were heard. I was not surprised by the next comment from Thorin.
"I don't believe you. How could you have even heard about our company when we have held all of our actions secret?" HE sneered. I tilted my head and glared back at him.
"I don't really know how to make you believe all that I've said but I suppose I can start by listing off the aspects of your journey thus far," I huffed, haughtily. Eyebrows were raised in skepticism. I smirked to myself and proceeded to tell them their story starting from the Hobbit hole up 'till the camp.
By the end of my tale their eyes were shocked wide open and their mouths were wide with awe. Thorin, instead of being impressed, had grown glaringly defensive. He marched up to me and stared down furiously.
"You're a spy then, aren't you? Why are you following our company? Who are you working for?" He growled with one had on the hilt of his sword. I looked back at him with shocked eyes. Stupid, stubborn dwarf! I fumed until I remembered something shared in whispers between Gandalf and Thorin. Something no spy would have been able to hear. In a swift movement I abandoned my chair and stood directly in front of the dwarf. After a brief stare down, of mostly me checking to see if he really was going to cut me to pieces, which I concluded he wouldn't, I leaned toward him much in the same manner as Gandalf had in the Hobbit whole earlier in the journey and whispered.
"I cannot guarantee his safety," I quoted word for word, "Nor will I be responsible for his fate." I finished pulling away from his frozen expression.
Thorin knew those words well. They had haunted his thoughts until he had portrayed them to Gandalf that day at the hobbits'. The way she had whispered them, the emotions she'd portrayed, were an exact replica of what had been shared between himself and the wizard. There was no way she could have copied those words unless she had been standing right there with them that night. A slight chill went through him as she stood in front of him arms crossed, waiting for a response.
"How is it possible you know such things?" He breathed in shock. The other dwarves were now thoroughly curious and they gathered around hoping to get some insight into this mystery. The woman smiles and began her tale.
"In my world, as I said, there aren't any other beings besides humans. There is no magic and our technology is, as you can tell," I gestured to my car, " highly advanced. Now, as to how I know who you are, that is harder to explain. I've read your entire tale in a book, a fantasy book, invented by a brilliant author. It is a well-known story in my time but it is considered a tall tale. Nothing in it is considered to be real or true… and that is why I was so frightened to see you all. I don't even know how I ended up here. I was driving down the street when someone ran into me and then…" I reached up to feel the cut along my head, which still ached.
The story had left all the dwarves speechless. This woman knew their story then? All the way to it's end? Should they ask her of their fates? If their quest would be fulfilled? Before anyone could ask though Gandalf broke the silence.
"Well then, those are some thoughts that will take getting used to Sharae. I am sure this will be discussed again in the future but for now we should ponder what's been said and get to the dinner Bombur has graciously put together for us." He gently pushed me back onto my chair and turned the dwarves in the direction of the fire leaving Bilbo and I to sit in dazed silence. Bilbo awkwardly turned in my direction.
"Well, Sharae, I'm sorry such an unfortunate event has come upon you. It seems quite a lot like my leaving Bag End." He fiddled with his jacket a bit, "But there's no need to worry really, the dwarves are really quite protective, you're sure to be safe with us," he grinned. I smiled back at him, thankful that someone was at least trying to relate to what I was going through. Bilbo was turning out to be a reliable friend. Little pieces of worry were starting to flake off my conscious. A few moments later Fili and Kili were in front of us, handing us bowls of food. I happily took it with a "thank you". Fili, Kili, Ori, and Balin sat closest to us. I was glad for the extra company. The food was nothing marvelous but luckily I wasn't a picky eater and finished it off quickly. Just then a thought crossed my mind.
"Where's my bag?" I asked, a little panicked, "Have you seen it?" I looked around to the dwarves hopefully.
"Ah!" called Ori, "It's just here," he fetched it from its place on the ground and carried it carefully over to me.
I grabbed it and thanked Ori while unzipping the large zipper. The dwarves around me huddled for a closer look. I pulled out my hairbrush and began to go through my tangled, dirty hair. Grass had lodged itself into every knot and the place where Bilbo had cleaned my cut was sticking up at odd angles.
The dwarves let out an exasperated sigh. I lifted an eyebrow in confusion.
"Of all the things you could have pulled out of your mystery bag, you pull out a hairbrush!" Fili laughed. I looked up at him with surprised eyes.
"Well, what were you expecting?" I wondered laughingly. Kili jumped at the opportunity.
"Have you got anything in there similar to that grandpa over there?" I exclaimed, pointing to my car a little ways off. I broke into a fit of laughter. He frowned in puzzlement. I held up my hand waiting for my laughing to die down.
"That thing over there is a car. Ha ha! I've named it Grandpa though, so I can see where there would be confusion," I wiped a tear from my eye.
"But I suppose you're right, I could show you a few things from my world. I hope your ready though, this bag is chuck full of them!" I said while reaching into my pack for something that would blow the dwarves away.
I just wanted to thank everyone who has watched or favorited or reviewed (or all three!) my story! It definitely keeps me a happy writer! Thanks for the support you awesome people!