SEVEN DEVILS, fili durin

CHAPTER EIGHT

"I can't fight a mountain!"

Nymeria found herself struggling to sleep that night, constantly tossing and turning with a furrow to her brow and an ache to her chest as her hobbit slept soundleslly next to her, non-repulsed by the obvious struggle she seemed to be going through in his peaceful slumber. And it really was some form of small tragedy indeed for the young faè, considering it had been a good week or two since she'd had the opportunity to actually lay in a bed, and for the first time for a while that she had that opportunity, her mind decided to plague her with destructive thoughts and blistering feelings to the point where she couldn't even enjoy it.

Couldn't enjoy the soft silk pressing against her skin like some form of gentle embrace, couldn't enjoy the lavender smelling pillow that made her eyelids heavy with sleep and cushioned the headache steadily forming...and couldn't enjoy the comfort of knowing that her hobbit was safe and warm and protected beside her, not having to worry about threat or natural disasters that could dare to harm him in the safety of the walls of Rivendell.

The dwarves, however, didn't seem to share the sentiment, and had seemed far too content to sleep outside camping out and laughing boisterously amongst each other until the late hours of the night just under her window before snoring tools it's place, the warm glow of the fire below her dancing across the walls of her temporary bedroom that had her eyes aching the more she watched them, but still, sleep eluded her, shifted away and forced her awake everytime she even got close and eventually, Nymeria heard the sounds of birds calling through the gentle breeze of the open window, alongside the suns rays pressing against her eyes.

And so, she finally sat up, making peace with the fact that there was far too much turmoil on her mind for her to rest before crawling over where her hobbit lay on a small cot beside her, a small twitching smile curling over the corners of her lips as she watched him for a few moments, twirling her fingers in the air and encasing them in her red mist, forcing it to do her bidding...which was pulling Bilbo's blanket back up and over his shoulders, lest he catch a chill in the morning air as she moved over to where their bags lay and began to rummage through them, searching for the lilac flower to soothe the ache at the base of her spine that seemed to worsen with every breath she took.

However, when she finally found the elusive plant after a few rather dull minutes of searching, she felt her insides sour with something vile at the sight that greeted her, looking down at the dwindling supply in resentment and frustration because really? As any point in this journey was she actually going to catch a break? Or did whatever forces higher than herself just decide to keep knocking her down in the hopes she'd never get up?

But of course, she didn't voice her dangerous thoughts, instead tearing one of the petals in half and slapping it upon her tongue and almost instantly feeling the soothing relief like warm honey tickling over her back comfortingly, a sigh slipping through her lips without permission as she rose up and stretched her arms above her head, no longer having to worry about the simple moment crippling her as she yawned and moved over towards the window, wanting a closer look at the rising sun as it peaked over the horizon.

However, she found her gaze reluctantly adverting to where she knew the company of dwarves had slept the night before, only to find a curious sight that greeted her which was the fact there didn't seem to be a living creature there any more, their things packed in their bags and stacked up against one of the pillars. And yet, there was no sign of them anywhere, and after a few moments of searching for them with her dark eyes, she finally decided that she didn't care as she strolled away over towards the bedroom door, casting one last look over her shoulder towards the still sleeping hobbit and smiling gently and then closing the door behind her.