You're going to have to forgive me ahead of time for the Khuzdul. I at least tried! haha! Also, I wrote this super late and there are probably a lot of errors. Give me reviews and let me know what you're thinking of the story so far. Review fuel my writing (and also help with the story!) Thank for reading!
"Been out for a walk, Huh?" Bifur elbowed Filii in the arm.
"You two've been off the map for some time now." Balin looked up from his cup. Bombur reached over and nudged me with his elbow too. I rolled my eyes, it seemed there would be a lot of that going on for a while. Kili had dragged his brother off, trying ot get all the details from him. Bilbo had done just about the same thing with me. We sat along a wall in a couple armchairs.
"Sooo," He mumbled, "Fili, huh?" I resisted another eye roll.
"I just took him to skip rocks." Bilbo made that face he does when he's confusedly taken by surprise.
"Rocks on the lake?" He asked, I nodded, "The frozen lake?" He insisted. I sighed
"I will have to show you later." I assured him, "By the way… the orcs will be here soon." I looked up wistfully. Bilbo's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Did you say ORCS?" He nearly dropped his tea. Thorin looked over in displeasure.
"Mahal, woman. What is it this time?" He moaned. Bilbo's shout had gotten everyone's attention, "Orcs?"
"Yeaaaah… I didn't want to ruin everyone's good time but they've been tracking us and they will probably be here within a week. We should get to evacuating the town soon." The mood in the room grew cloudy.
"Will you be keeping nasty surprises for us through the whole journey?" Thorin asked sarcastically. I looked up musing, tilting my head back and forth in thought. He sighed, exasperated.
"Oh yeah, one more thing." Everyone sighed, "Bolg, Azog's son, will be with them." I tried to break the news lightly. They all sat in silence. Maybe they didn't even know Azog had a son, I wasn't sure. All I knew was it was, of course, not happy news.
"That's ummm, that's…" Bilbo floundered for something to say.
"Bad, yeah, bad. We know their coming though so we can be prepared." I tried to reason. Everyone remained in tense silence.
"Dwalin, Fili, Kili, do what you can to board the windows. Ori, Bifur, find the first and second quickest escape routs. Nori, Dori, you're night watch at the bowman's house. Bombur, Bofur, you are first watch here." Everyone got up to attend to their jobs. I'd gone and ruined the fun. Phooey. At least they'd had a good while to relax. Thorin dragged an armchair in front of me and sat in it.
"Is there anything else the seer wishes to inform us of?" He asked like he was expecting no more suprises from here on out.
"Plenty, doesn't mean that I should though." I countered his certainness. Thorin brought his fingers to his brow.
"You may be the death of me," he groused. My heart stuttered.
"Hopefully I'm a case for the opposite." I frowned. He looked me in the eyes and I think he saw that I was dreading what was to come and I was doing everything I could to make things ok, to make them better than they were supposed to be. Thorin and I both sighed at the same time. Bilbo promptly got up and scooted away.
"I just wanted to give you guys some mental rest, before it got crazy again." I looked down in frustration. I finger lifted my face up.
"Just keep doing what you are. I am trying my best to trust what you know. It is still hard to grasp, forgive me." I nodded. I figured it was not an easy task for him to switch to the follower, putting his trust in a stranger with their lives. I could not blame his frustration with everything, "Please… try to find a way to keep my nephews safe." He grasped both of my hands in his and placed them on his forehead, "Keep them safe." He whispered, it almost sounded like a prayer. He let my hands go and sat up, "Forgive me, my nerves are on edge." I nodded. Two apologies within one sitting. He was starting to lose his nerve over the situation, "Go get rest, we are going to have a long day tomorrow."
Before I'd even woken up Thorin had already gone to the Master of Laketown to discuss evacuation, immediate evacuation. While the Master didn't seem happy with the news he understood the risk of staying. He wanted handsome payment for the inconvenience to him and his subjects. Thorin agreed. All of the threats coming upon the town were brought upon by him. Thorin directed them to the safest area to stay till they were fetched.
Bilbo had given me the whole lowdown once I'd woken up. He also mentioned Bard's unhappiness at the early departure of his children. I winced. Yeah, that probably wasn't helping his nerves. Bard would be staying with us at the Inn. We would have a week to defeat the orcs and get our plan together for Durin's Day. Reinforcements would be coming around a day after the opening of the mountain. Only days after that the battle would begin. Our current battle strategy was fairly simple: traps everywhere we could manage. The plan for the dragon was not so solid. Who could predict what a giant, gold loving, murderous dragon would do? Al day we helped situate townsfolk to leave. We packed carts, stored food, equipped the men with weapons. We shipped everything they couldn't take to the shore so it wouldn't end up at the bottom of the lake.
I didn't know exactly when the orcs would show up in town so our guard was on high. With all the chaos around the company still managed to find time to train me. I was grateful I was getting prepared but exhausted at the mix of emotional and physical stress. My fingers and hands were calloused now and I could fight for much longer. Kili was impressed with my progress and sent me off for the night. On my way back from training I noticed Fili leaning against a house across a bridge. He motioned me over with his finger. I looked around to see if it was really me he was calling. No one else was around. I crossed the bridge to him. Fili gave me a little smile.
"What's with the suspicious hiding?" I asked.
"Well, we know what happened the last time we were seen off together." He grinned. I nodded, he was right. What was this about then? I didn't need to ask him.
"I wanted to let you in on something." Now I was listening very intently, "You aren't supposed to know this but I think you of all people deserve to know what's going on." When he saw me nod he continued, "We are planning a hunt for the orcs." He confessed. My mouth fell open.
"WHAT?" I nearly yelled. Fili quickly jumped to cover my mouth. I brushed his hand aside, "Do you guys even know how risky that is?" I hissed at him. Fili now realized I couldn't be quiet about this and started dragging me further away while I ranted. " I can't guarantee any safety to anyone if you guys go off into the unknown on some made up mission!" I tried to shout my anger as quietly as I could.
"We know it 's risky but Thorin figures it may give us the edge in the coming fight." He tried to reason. I could see why they may think that was a brilliant idea but I had so many reasons why it wasn't.
"You guys don't get it. With my plan I know you guys won't die. How bad is that? Really? I already discussed all this with Thorin! He's supposed to be putting a little trust in me!" I was starting to pace around rumbling my frustrations, "And what happens if some of you die out there? Or all of you? What will happen about the DRAGON issue and the ARMIES of dwarves and orcs heading this way? Do you see my dilemma? Do you see why this is a terrible idea?" I raved at him. His face was held in a wince. Maybe he did understand.
"Well, no matter how convincing all of that is it's what Thorin thinks needs to be done so that's that." He mumbled.
"Uh uh, I'm gonna go slap some sense into him right now." Fili nabbed my elbow as I started to turn around.
"Thorin specifically instructed us to keep you out of this. You are not supposed to know any of this. I was not supposed to tell you."
"What on this good earth is wrong with all of you? We are talking about potential death here! Potential failure! Is this really worth it?" I was nearly smoking from the ears.
"That's why I'm telling you, Sharae. If you can catch us leaving and stop us maybe this can be amended." I paused my rage fire to think. It could work.
"Ok, if you can give me hints to when it may be then this could work out. But if you happen to leave without me by heavens I am following you out there! And when I find you I will have a good word with Thorin." I shook my balled up fist in the air. Fili spurted a laugh at the gesture.
"There are not many who would threaten to maul the King of the Mountain. You are quite something." His praise made me grin, "But you joining on the mission worries me. You are not trained enough to take on orcs." I scoffed at his comment.
"I will be on the sidelines picking them off and keeping an eye on you. You guys are likely to be the ones in trouble." I mumbled. Fili put a heavy hand on my shoulder.
"Don't die." He gave me a pat, "I will protect you if you find yourself in peril."
"Same to you Braids." I turned toward the Inn. "Okay then, keep me in on the plan," I walked myself back while Fili headed to the training grounds for his brother. I had hope that I could stop the ill-fated plan. That was the only thing keeping me from unleashing molten lava rage when I met back up with the bustling, jolly dwarves.
The next day was a disaster. Tabs were being kept on Fili and we both knew it. They must have expected him to let word slip for one reason or another, which he had done, but now my chances of learning when they were leaving were extremely slim. I couldn't count on getting a time of departure from Fili anymore so I'd have to keep a close eye on the companies movements.
The next morning I woke sleepily and changed with sore muscles. Kili was training me pretty dang hard lately. I walked to the foyer where I stopped in frightened silence.
"You've got to be kidding me," Everyone was already gone. The house was silent and a little note on the table (which I had to laugh at) said they were out hunting, "It's only been two dang days!" I ran back to my room and packed what I thought I'd needed. I grabbed my bow and made for the exit of Laketown. It was already late in the day since no one had woken me up and the sun was past its prime. Luckily their tracks were fairly noticeable on the lakes shore. I could at least get the general direction of their movements. I knew I would lose their trial as soon as I made it to the forest and darkness could hit before I managed to catch up or find them. I followed the muddy tracks till they ended and then I was wandering at the edge of the forest looking for signs of them.
There was a river that lead into the lake so I followed it into the forest a ways so I would not get lost. The group had to be close. I climbed the easiest tree I could find and perched on a branch looking out as far as I could. The shadows from the lowering sun were casting dark shadows making it nearly impossible to discern anything. Suddenly a vision overtook my senses. I could see Sauron, far off, staring in one direction. I wondered if he had somehow found Bilbo. If so… The vision left me. If Sauron knew where Bilbo was then so did the orcs.
I glanced in the direction Sauron's eye had been looking, back toward the river. I couldn't see anything but I knew that direction was my best bet. As I began to climb down I hesitated and looked around at the sound of bushes shuffling. I trained my eyes where I'd heard the noise. Another shuffling sound came from directly below me. When my eyes finally made sense of the shadows below me I nearly fell from the tree as the large stalking shape of a warg brushed past the trunk of my tree toward the river. After seeing him I noticed other shapes blending into the foliage below.
I heard a sharp chatter of teeth almost directly in front of me and my head shot up. I looked just in time to see an orc clamber up a tree only two in front of me and settle himself on a branch with a bow in hand. He aimed an arrow toward the river. Without even thinking I knocked an arrow of my own and shot him from the tree. Only once he was falling did I realize my not so brilliant idea. I rushed to the opposite side of the trunk to avoid being spotted. As the orc thunked to the ground the others stopped in their tracks, looking around for the culprit. To my great relief they did not start a riot and climb the tree to kill me. They couldn't seem to tell what had happened so they cautiously continued to stalk forward.
I knocked another arrow and, from behind the trunk of the tree, aimed for the orc riding the warg. This one would probably give me away but I knew my company had no knowledge of the danger heading their way. I prepared myself for arrows of fury. The arrow left my hand, planting itself in the chest of the orc. Another arrow was in my hands before said orc let out a sharp, gurgly bark. The sunset caught the head of an orc that had turned my direction. I let the arrow go at the only other target I could currently see. This one let out a shrieking cry. I hadn't quite killed it. In its wailings whatever orcs had been hiding began to stir with snarls. There were a few more than what I'd been expecting. I suddenly realized that none had been offed at the escape from Thranduil's. My shock and distress didn't stop me from knocking more arrows trying to thing the mass. They'd finally figure out where I was and I could see I'd missed some archers.
I ducked around the trunk as I dodged a round of enemy fire. I flipped back around trying to place hits of my own. All the while, more orcs had begun climbing the tree. There were way too many for one woman to handle. I desperately landed two lucky shots on the remaining archers before shouldering my bow and grabbing the short sword at my side. The offenders were coming from all sides and my arms suddenly goosebumped. One at a time, just get them as they come. I tired to calm myself. The fist orc came at me, nabbing at my legs with claws and dodging my swings. I kicked at him trying to dislodge him from the tree. It worked a little before I was dodging swings from another who managed to climb the other side. I parried and spun around to knock him out of the tree. He was balanced though, maybe even more so than me. I swung at him then did a Sparta kick which only knocked him back a little. I didn't have the chance to follow up before large arms wrapped around mine, locking at my chest. It had been the orc I'd tried to kick off and had subsequently disarmed. The other that I'd Sparta kicked was coming back with his sword raised. I kicked in the air trying to ward off the oncoming orc and loosen the grip of my captor.
"Get off you halfwit!" I tried to kick off the branch to tip us over but the orc weighed way too much. The other orc was now in front of us ready to give me the death stroke. I skitted my feet against the branch trying to back away. I realized there was absolutely nothing I could do to save myself and I screamed as the blade arched toward me, "Fili!" I shut my eyes and turned my head away from the swing.
When the swing didn't come my head shot back up in confusion. The blade was hovering about a foot from me, unmoving. The orc had a large arrow protruding from his skull. His heavy body fell from the tree following the momentum of the arrow. I looked to the ground. A small army of dwarves was charging the orcs with absolute rage on their faces. Stagnant amongst the chaos was Fili, arm falling away from the shot he'd just taken, staring up at me. Kili was at his side still confused as to where his bow had gone. I threw my head back into my captors face. I was released instantly and, without giving him time to recover I shoved him from the tree. When I looked back Fili had joined the others.
Finally true to my word I sat from above and picked orcs off as I sat in safety. That was until I saw Bolg. He raged through the underbrush and my arrow bounced from his metal plating. I found the elf I wanted.
"Legolas!" I shouted down to him. His head shot toward me. I quickly pointed at the scary and very angry, stampeding Bolg. Legolas didn't even acknowledge me, he just jumped strait onto the raving orc. With him in check I went back to my work. The orcs had gone down like flies with no archers to watch their backs. With Legolas handling Bold the other orcs were finished off and everyone backed away to give the fighting two their room. There was no way to interfere with this fight, it was too quick and too violent. Legolas sliced and kicked, he jumped over Bolg's attacks. Bolg was vicious and fierce and it scared me to think of how different the fighting seemed while watching it in real life. Any of those swings of his could have ended Legolas instantly. I was in awe at how the company could fight such terrifying creatures and come out of it alive. My worries over self-preservation began to fester ten fold. Legolas ducked from another swing causing Bolg to stumble. With that opening Legolas stabbed into his calf. Thorin and Dwalin used this chance to pounce and finished the orc off with two blades to the chest. I looked away, not liking the look or sound of flesh and blood getting sliced. Through all of the distractions I hadn't noticed Fili climbing the tree. He reached the branch I was on and lifted himself onto it. I walked to meet him and smothered him in a giant hug. I let out a sob I'd been holding in since my near death experience. He lowered me to sit on the branch as he hugged me back, smoothing me hair with one hand. Through panicked breaths I finally spoke.
"Th-thank you," He nodded into my hair. We stayed like that until my breathing was finally back to normal.
"I should be thanking you Nâla''azan. You have saved lives this day." I looked up from the hug. He'd called me something, I didn't know what. He smiled at my questioning face, "It means River Shadow, in honor of your first battle this day. May the name forever be spoken of in the Halls of Erabor." His eyes looked into mine with such pride I almost cried. He was too good, to kind to someone who had needed saving. To call me a hero was too flattering, too sweet. I smiled weakly at him.
"I am honored," He brought me into another tight hug. His hand on the back of my head pulled me close to his chest.
"Nâla''azan... amrâlimê." He whispered. I smiled again as the hug washed away the fear that had been threatening to tear me apart.