Warrior's Heart

Chapter Five

The Company spent four days in Mirkwood and for Arielle, they were four of the fastest days she'd ever passed. She dreaded the next morning, when Thorin would be taking his leave for Lake-Town, the last stop before Erebor.

But she kept that to herself as she came out into a courtyard and saw Thorin tossing Tiriana into the air, just as Dwalin had done their first night in Mirkwood. The halfling—Bilbo?— was off to the side, sitting on a bench of green marble, just watching father and daughter.

Arielle sank onto the bench beside him, smiling as he jumped. "I beg your pardon, Master Baggins, I didn't meant to startle you."

"No, it-it's quite all right," he looked up at her. "I was just... when Thorin told me you had a little girl, I couldn't quite picture him with a child. But now, watching them—" he nodded in Thorin's direction as Tiriana flew into the air once more—"I wonder how I ever doubted her existence."

"He keeps this side well protected," she replied as Thorin caught Tiriana and brought her in to his chest. "As he does her. It's his nature to protect those he loves."

"I've seen it myself many times these last six months."

A breeze rippled through the courtyard, sending leaves scuttling in all directions. There were more on the ground than usual, and as she gazed about, she saw the foliage was also far browner than usual. The darkness she'd felt so long ago, when she and Thorin were just coming know one another, had returned with a vengeance. Even the air felt sickly.

That breeze picked up, tugging her hair from its simple plait to send it streaming before her eyes. She dragged it back, tucking it behind one ear as she said, "I never did thank you, Master Baggins."

"Thank me?" Curious dark eyes met hers and his brow furrowed. "Thank me for what?"

"For keeping him safe," she nodded at Thorin, who had moved to the low wall ringing the courtyard, Tiriana in his left arm as he pointed to something in the distance with his right hand. "He told me what you did, when the Orcs had you pinned down on the cliff. You saved his life."

"Oh," a hint of color came into his pale cheeks and he shook his head, "it wasn't anything anyone else wouldn't do."

"Still, you did it and because of that, he is here, whispering secrets with his daughter. Because of that, I can go and slip my hand into his and walk with him deep into this forest and not even have to talk because we are just so comfortable with one another."

She reached down to cover both of his small hands with one of hers. "You brought him back to us, to Tiriana and me. And for that, I will be forever grateful."

"I had no choice, Your Highness," he told her softly. "He spoke of you, of your daughter, and how he missed both of you so terribly. I certainly couldn't let him not come home to you."

Her eyes stung and she tightened her fingers about his hand. "Please, no formality. Arielle is fine."

He smiled. "And you are quite welcome—" he hesitated—"Arielle. And you have my word that I will look after Thorin as best I can. I will do my best to make sure he comes home again."

"I'd rather not think about what you are doing next," she sighed, sinking against the back of the bench. "I worry so much about him. I mean, I know he has good men around him, but still... it isn't the same as my being able to watch over him."

"He tells me you've become quite the warrior as well." Bilbo gestured vaguely toward the west. "That you have also met Azog face to face."

"It was a long time ago, when he and I first met. I'd run away from home," she laughed softly, "and stumbled into one disaster after another and then he stumbled into me."