Differently *Fem!Bilbo/Thorin Oakenshield*

Chapter 10: Wild-Girl

We've been journeying for months now to the point of which it's been a year. I never realized how quickly the time went by and yet we were still near the forests of the misty mountains.  I found myself getting better acquainted with my company of dwarves. As we traveled just beyond the misty mountains I scouted out for Azog and the remainders of his Orc pack. But the creature following him was far more interesting. A great black bear followed Azog and it seemed to look me dead in the eyes. I quickly ducked down hiding from him. Once I knew he was gone I made my way back to the company.

“How close is the pack?”Dwalin asked.

“Too close. A couple of leagues at most but that is not the worst of it.”I said panting for breath. 

“Have the wargs picked up our scent?”

“Not yet but they will, we have another problem.”

“Did they see you?They saw you!”Gandalf exclaimed.

“No that’s not it.”I replied. I glared at Gandalf as he cut me off again. 

“Will you please listen to me? There is something else out there!” They al looked at me concerned.

“What form did it take? That of a bear?”The wizard asked.

“Y-yes? but bigger much bigger. How did you know that?” I asked.

“I say we double back.”Bofur urged.

“And be run down by a pack of Orcs.”Thorin added.

“There is a house, not far from here where we might take refuge.”Gandalf said.

“Whose house? Are they friend or foe?”

“Neither he will help us or he will kill us.”

“Well those are wonderful options.”I exclaimed before looking to Thorin for guidance.

“What choice do we have?”He asked and we ran following gandalf towards the plains and then into a large house the bear chasing after us. Once we got the door shut and locked behind us I felt safe. “Are you alright?”Thorin asked me as we began to settle in. 

“I will be.”I replied starting to pull twigs out of my hair from rushing through the forest. 

“Here sit, let me.”He said leading me to a stool. 

“Balin told me about this, braiding is important to the courtship of dwarves is it not?”

“You’re quite the scholar Bella.”

“I’ve always liked to learn about those from the other realms of Arda. I never left home for the sake of my mother. She always worried about me and she shouldn’t have had to worry about a thing a day of her life.” I relaxed into his touch as he fixed the tangled mess of my hair. It had grown down past my shoulders and reached the bottom of my bust and I wasn’t used to it quite yet. He took one strand that lay behind my ear and braided it gently clamping it with a beautiful silver bead. “Thank you Thorin, it’s so beautiful. I only wish I had something to give you.” I said, turning to face him as I ran my fingers over the runes carved into the bead. 

“You have given me far more than I deserve already, Bella. Come let’s get some rest.” He said taking my small soft hand in his large rough one. Finding an empty patch of hay we lay down and he wrapped his arms around me. 

“Goodnight Thorin.”I said, a yawn escaping me.

“Goodnight Amralime,”He replied. I allowed myself to relax in his warm arms and was finally able to get a good night’s rest safe from Orcs, goblins and all other creatures that chased after us. I was awoked by a very large bumblebee perched on the end of my nose. 

“Excuse me sir but that tickles.”I told the bee and he flew off. Standing up I joined the others who were gathered at the large table with the skin changer serving them breakfast.

“The halfling finally awakens. You look so very much like your mother.”He said with a smile. My eyes widened in surprise. 

“You knew my mother?”I asked looking at him. I swore that I could feel Thorin’s glare from across the room. 

“Belladonna Took was quite the adventurer before she settled down and married Bungo Baggins. ‘Wildgirl’ they called her. She traveled much of middle earth and she was a friend to all even the skin changers. She often spoke of you in her letters.”

“Gandalf? Did you know this? Why wouldn’t she have told me about her adventures?”I asked the wizard.

“I knew of it, yes but I felt that you needed to find out on your own. It was her choice not to tell you.”Gandalf said and I nodded understanding but still a little upset. 

“Excuse me for a moment.”I told the others before going outside to sit in Beorn’s garden.  Finding a bench I sat down looking at the beauty surrounding me. I was so confused. I didn’t understand. Why couldn’t she tell me about her amazing adventures? My thoughts were interrupted as I felt someone sit down next to me. I looked up to see Thorin. 

“Beorn is going to give us what we need to make it to Mirkwood. But I wanted to check on you first. Are you alright Bella?”He asked.

“No, why couldn’t she tell me about all of this? Why was she so steadfast about keeping me in the Shire? Why couldn’t she share this part of herself with me? If only I had known before she-”I stopped myself wiping away the tears that fell down my cheeks. 

“Before she what?”

“I was talking about my mother and father when I told you you weren’t the only one to lose someone to tragedy all those months ago. One night my father was very ill and she went to Bree to find a healer to help him. But she was attacked by goblins on her way back. I never got to tell her how much I loved her and then my father died shortly after. That’s why I was so steadfast at first about staying in the shire. How could I leave everything they worked so hard for behind?” 

“I’m sorry Bella. Truly I am but perhaps this is what she wanted for you. For you to find your own adventure. I didn’t know her but  from what the skin-changer has said she seemed brave and loyal to the very end. And I can tell that you inherited that from her. Please do not cry anymore ghivashel. It pains me to see you so sad when your brightness fills me with such hope.”He said, wiping my tears away. 

“Thank you Thorin, for everything.”I replied, pressing a small kiss to his lips. “You have no idea what you mean to me.” I looked up into his beautiful blue eyes and knew no words could describe what either of us meant to the other.

“Come on we need to keep moving.”He said helping me down from the bench. As we readied to leave Beorn’s home he approached me.

“This was your mother’s she said when thrown it will never miss.”Beorn said handing me an ornate dagger. (pictured above) “Use it only when necessary.” I nodded strapping the dagger to my belt.

“Thank you Beorn for showing me a side of my mother I never knew.” I replied.

“You carry her with you Wildgirl.”I smiled at the man before going to join Thorin on his pony.

“Rest ghivashel. We have a ways to go.”He ordered and I nodded leaning back into his chest my cheek supported by the soft fur of his coat.