Child Of Light

Calling to me

Gandalf struck the stone so it would split in two and the sun shine brightly. The trolls screamed in agony and turned to stone. The dwarves cheered in relief and were elevated from their bags and the spit. Kili and Fili immediately ran over to the spot where they saw Erica land behind the bushes.They jumped through and saw her trying to get out of the bag.

"We found her!" They yelled in relief

Thorin was the first to arrive to the scene and sighed in relief "you stupid girl" he growled cutting her out of the bag and releasing her wrists. He firmly held her arm in place "what were you thinking! They could have killed you!"

He's stopped short when he noticed that her back was going damp with redness. Erica wriggled to get out of his hold but he kept her in place with both hands on her arms "Oin!" He called. The healing dwarf came forward and dug through his bag for some supplies.

"Thorin please leave it I'm ok" Erica pleaded but the leading dwarf wasn't listening. He cut the back of her corset and shirt open "your hurt Erica let Oin..."

He paused as he opened the back of her shirt. Immediately his blood ran cold. Layers upon layers of scars decorated her back, many that were yellow and purple with bruising. He lightly traced a dry one making Erica hiss and draw back from him. The company was silent with shock.

"Great Durin" Balin whispered.

"Whip marks....our lady here was tortured before meeting us" Gandalf spoke gravely. Dwalin clenched his hands into fists "Lass...who did this to you" He growled in anger. Erica remained silent and shook her head.

"Erica we want to help you...who did it...." Bilbo said softly. Erica looked at him through teary eyes "you can't help me...not now..." She croaked.

Thorin stood, letting Oin sit behind her. He faced Gandalf "why didn't you tell us before...." He asked calmly.

"It was not my business to tell Thorin. Yes I did know of her injuries but she will explain when she is ready." Gandalf spoke.

"I will not let this guilt rest on my shoulders....whomever did this to her will pay dearly for her pain!" Thorin growled feeling a protective wave wash over him.

A howl of pain snapped him from his argument. He found Fili and Kili holding down Erica's arms while Bilbo and Bofur held down her legs "keep her held down lads, these are much worse than I imagined" Oin ordered as he rubbed a herbal salve over her back. The salts in the salve caused Erica to screech and rip the grass from under her hands. Thorin moved away from Gandalf and knelt by her. He took her small hand in his and let her squeeze it everytime she was overridden with pain.

Finally Oin was done. He dressed her back with bandages and fished out an extra shirt from her bag. He made everyone avert their eyes as she sat up, holding her old shirt to her chest. She slipped on the new one and took deep breaths to calm herself. Thorin helped her stand up "you alright?" He asked. She nodded as he handed her off to Fili "look after her" he whispered.

Fili nodded and spoke to Erica softly as Thorin made his way over to Gandalf

"Where did you go to, if I may ask?" He asked less angered than earlier. Gandalf chuckled "To look ahead." Was all he answered.

Thorin rolled his eyes "What brought you back then" he asked

"Looking behind. Nasty business. Still, they are all in one piece." Gandalf said gesturing to the company. Thorin glanced at them and then to Erica who was smiling at something Bifur said.

"No thanks to your burglar." He mumbled

"He had the nous to play for time. None of the rest of you thought of that." Gandalf pointed out. Thorin let a small smile appear and inspected the troll statues.

"They must have come down from the Ettenmoors." Mumbled

"Since when do mountain trolls venture this far south?" Thorin asked curiously. Gandalf tapped the statues head with his staff

"Oh, not for an age, not since a darker power ruled these lands." He mumbled thoughtfully.

He and Thorin look meaningfully at each other. "They could not have moved in daylight." Gandalf pointed out

"Then There must be a cave nearby." Thorin said turning to the company "there's a troll cave nearby! We must find it!" He ordered.

The company began their search for the cave until they heard Erica yell "up here!"

She had found the cave.

"Oh, what's that stench?!" Nori coughed holding a sleeve to his nose

"It's a troll hoard. Be careful what you touch." Gandalf warned. He entered first with Thorin in tow. Erica was behind him holding a hand to her nose,trying not to vomit. She spied weapons of all sorts, gold, meals and all assorts of silver and gold ware.

"Seems a shame just to leave it lyin' around. Anyone could take it." Bofur said thoughtfully as he kicked a few coins.

"Agreed. Nori, get a shovel." Gloin ordered.

While exploring, Erica had wandered away from the group to the other side of the cave where she spotted a few barrels of swords and weaponry.

Suddenly, she felt a pull from her necklace. Looking down, she found the stone dimly glowing. She rose an eyebrow 'that's never happened before...' She thought.

Her eyes spotted something shining against a stone. Cautiously she moved towards it and peered closer only to find that beneath the cobwebs was a sword....no, two swords that matched. She removed the cobwebs and slowly touched them, feeling a chill run down her spine. The swords were beautifully created and meant to be together. One had a black hilt, while the other had a white one and both possessed a moonstone just like her necklace.

She picked them up and inspected them, not noticing Gandalf come up behind her "find something of interest?" He asked. She squeaked and jumped around in fright "must you startle me!" She gasped. Gandalf chuckled "apologies my dear, now what are these beauties?" He asked referring to the swords. I showed them to him and he smiled "ah, dwarfish make, very rare to come by. I think they will serve you well eh?"

Erica smiled "yeah...it's like they were calling to me. Weird huh?" She asked sheepishly. Gandalf only smiled "you never know my dear" he mumbled

"Let's get out of this foul place. Come on, let's go. Bofur! Gloin! Nori!" Thorin called. Erica scrambled out the cave taking in a deep gulp of air.

"How do you feel?"

She turned, surprised to find Thorin asking her such a question. She smiled softly "I'm fine, don't worry about me" she said. She noticed his new sword "that looks like a good one" she said pointing to the sword. He nodded then noticed hers. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion "may I see those" he asked. She nodded and unsheathed them. His eyes widened "those swords....I remember my father made them for someone. I can't remember whom though" he realised.

"Woah. Your fathers really talented" Erica complimented. Thorin softly smiled "aye, that he is" he said softly.

"Do you think you'll find him again?" She asked.

Thorin nodded "I believe I will...someday." He chocked. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked into Erica's warm eyes "don't loose hope ever. I have a feeling you'll see each other again" she said. Thorin smiled and patted her hand in thanks. His ears suddenly perked up, hearing something fast come their way. He quickly pulled Erica beside him with a hand firmly on her waist "something's coming!" He warned

"Stay together! Hurry now. Arm yourselves!" Gandalf ordered drawing his sword.

"Thieves! Fire! Murder!"

A man clad in brown rode in on a sled pulled by giant rabbits. Erica sighed in relief

"Radagast!" Gandalf sighed in relief