Wayfarer of dawn

XII. In which logic is not always explainable

Rána next awoke in large, hairy arms. "Lady Wanderer, you are awake," a gruff voice above her muttered. And as Rána looked up, though she did not need it to identify the speaker, as only one person ever called her lady wanderer, she met the brown-black eyes of Beorn. "Try not to move too much," Beorn muttered as he noticed that she was about to twist, "your wounds have not yet fully healed, lady Wanderer."

"Beorn," she muttered softly, "where... Where are they?" Beorn smiled, "the Dwarves, the Wizard and the Hobbit lay asleep in the hay." "They are alright then?" "Yes, lady Wanderer, they are quite right. But tired, and fear for your safety," he said as he stopped walking and placed her down in a chair.

Beorn silently handed her a jug filled with milk, and put down a plate in front of her, flooding with fruit. "The fruit of the forest," Rána muttered as she noticed the three, spherical-typed, fruits, "and the fruit of the Bear-faced-rock," she swiftly took a silvery square-like piece of fruit.

"I remember, how we met," Beorn said softly as he too, took a piece of fruit. "I was plucking fruits on the rock, and you growled at me, and I just laughed and offered you a fruit," Rána said with a smile. "I thought you a foolish child, until you started talking to me, explaining to me that you were on your way to meet the rangers," Beorn said and popped the square-like piece of fruit into his mouth.

"I recognized you as a skin changer the moment I saw you, I knew I needn't fear you then. Besides, I was a young elleth, and skin changers hardly attacked my kin," Rána mumbled and munched on her fruit. Beorn took a red, spherical piece of fruit and said, "only when you turned did I realise you were an elleth, I could have killed you." "And you planned to, but you stopped once I offered you fruit. But we're not here to reminisce, you would have let me sleep if that was the case," Rána said as she took another piece of fruit.

Beorn's face suddenly turned serious, "the road is not safe, lady Wanderer." Rána sighed, "I figured as much, Beorn." Then she took a sip of her milk. "Can we make it to the forest?" she asked softly. "You have not had a reason to go back there before," Beorn looked at the Dwarves in disdain, "are they really worth it, lady Wanderer?" Rána smiled and nodded, "they are. I'd give my life for them," "which might be the exact thing you do if you venture into that forest." Beorn looked at her, "please, lady Wanderer, reconsider." Rána shook her head, "the forest is the only remotely safe way to travel. I know of the dangers I will face when I enter that forest, I know of the beasts that dwell in the shadows, I know the danger of my kin." "It matters not, you will not make it to the forest," Beorn uttered. "Not even in the cover of daylight?" "No, the sun will set before you reach the forest were you to go on foot," "will we go on foot? Beorn, please, help us," "you I will offer my horses, the Dwarves..." Beorn trailed off. "Beorn, I promise we will return them, set them free at the edge of the forest," Rána swiftly said. "I suppose," Beorn said with a sigh, "you can ride to the forest's edge." "Thank you, Beorn," Rána said with a smile and then finished her milk. Beorn got up and put away the fruit as the first Dwarf stirred, "they are awakening, lady Wanderer, do you wish for me to tell them you are still asleep?" "Yes," Rána said as she got up and walked towards the door, "please do. I need to freshen up a bit, is the silver stream still safe?" Beorn tossed her a towel and some clean garbs, "Yes, take Hathor, he is fast and smart." Rána nodded, looking down at the garbs, "thank you. Are these - ?" "Yours? Yes, lady Wanderer, I saved them in case you were to drop by again." "Thank you, again," Rána said as she opened the door, "oh, and Beorn?" He turned back to her from staring into the barn, "yes?" "Try not to kill them," Rána said with a smile as she left the house.

When Rána returned, halfway through the morning, she saw a sight she'd never imagined to see. Thorin Oakenshield was thanking somebody, that somebody being Beorn. A soft bubble of laughter escaped her lips, drawing the attention to her. "Lady Wanderer, you have returned," Beorn said with a smile, "just in time I see," she said. "You are awake! But he said -" Thorin exclaimed. "It matters not what Beorn said, for I asked him to say it." "Why?" Thorin asked. "I needed to freshen up," Rána said with a smile, "and didn't want all kinds of questions fired at me in the morning." Thorin nodded. "I suppose I should," he swallowed, "thank you." "Don't mention it Thorin Oakenshield, I'd do it again if I were given the choice." Thorin looked at her and smiled, but his smile was wiped of his face when Beorn muttered his opinion, "and she might need to do that again, Dwarf." "What do you speak of?" Rána sighed and answered Thorin, "we are returning to the place I left, Thorin, Beorn thinks I will not be save there and -" "I am right," Beorn cut her sentence short, and she just nodded. Thorin's brow furrowed, "but -" Rána shook her head to shut him up. "There is no other way, so I will now ask you a favor." "Name it," Thorin said without skipping a beat. "Do not question nor doubt my actions in the forest, do not try to stop me and if you must, go on without me." Thorin's jaw dropped for a second and then he shut his mouth. "Why?" "I cannot tell, for I do not yet know myself Thorin." He sighed and nodded. "Fine, only if you promise me to go back to Beorn if we are to get seperated." Rána pondered for a second and then asked "why?" "Logic," Thorin muttered, "somehow that is logical to me." Rána nodded as an answer and then muttered "Alright, agreed. Logic is not always explainable."

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Hello,
Thank you for sticking around for so long. I know it's been long since I last updated. That's mainly because of some personal issuess, and the fact that school has me working around the clock lately, only letting me have a break for sleep.
I hope I'll have some more time soon, and I apologize if this seems rushed (because it sort of was).

Love,
The Author,
IceAmy