From Other Worlds

The Tale of Moria

Rayna sat awake the next night, once again finding trouble in sleeping. This night she noticed Bilbo was too, but for different reasons. She watched as he gave an apple to his horse and smiled to herself, only for a moment before a sound was heard. Bilbo stood stark straight and turned to the brothers who were keeping watch that night.

"What was that?" Bilbo asked.

Before Rayna could answer that it was likely a fox Kili spoke, "Orcs."

"Orcs?" Bilbo skirted his way back to the fire. Rayna nodded to herself remembering now what was going to happen.

"Throat cutters. There'll be dozens of them out there." Fili added.

"They come in the night all quick and quiet. No screams. Just lots of blood." Kili spoke as if telling a horror story, before laughing with his brother.

"You think a night raid by orcs is a joke?" Thorin glared at his nephews.

"We didn't mean anything by it." Kili looked down, flicking his eyes up to catch Rayna watching him.

"Of course not. You know nothing of the world." Thorin walked away from them.

Having seen the disappointed faces of FIli and Kili, Balin stepped in, "Don't worry lad. Thorin has more cause than most to hate orcs."

As Balin told the story of the Battle of Moria Rayna listened, and kept watch because it always intrigued her how the company went from a deep sleep to standing, looking at Thorin as they heard of his heroic battle. She was left with even more questions as they all seemed to just get up and look to their king.

"What about the pale orc?" Bilbo asked.

"He slunk back from where he came. That filth died of his wounds a long time ago." Thorin clasped his hands behind his back and returned to his resting spot.

It was Balin who caught Rayna watching him and Gandalf as they exchanged looks of knowing. Eyeing her as she quickly looked away, over her shoulder behind her to the valley. He kept a watch as she looked around and decided it was time she tucked herself in to sleep for the night.

The next morning was sunny as they packed up to travel once more.

"A word, lass." Balin approached Rayna, gesturing to follow.

"Sure, Balin. What is it?" she followed him away from the company.

"Certainly you saw the look Gandalf and I exchanged last night. I just wanted to assure you-"

"That you had no way of knowing for certain whether or not Azog is truly dead. Not like you were going to follow the orcs back underground. I know."

"Yes. Exactly. I would appreciate if you didn't bring this up with Thorin, or the boys."

"Oh of course." Rayna nodded. An easy promise to keep since she wasn't going to anyways. If she did she was sure Thorin wouldn't believe her and she needed to stay on the journey.

As the ride pressed on Rayna watched as Kili's head fell repeatedly from her spot behind him. She rode a little faster to catch up, watching as his head fell again. This time she reached out to catch his forehead so his neck didn't snap again. She gently let his head fall, chin to chest and took the reigns from his hands. She took his bedroll from his pack and placed it in front of him, gently pushing him down to lean on it. It might not have been the most comfortable position, but at least he wouldn't fall.

"Thank you." Fili rode up alongside her, "He felt so terrible about the joke he stayed watch all night."

"You found it easy to sleep I see."

"I try not to take it as hard as he does. We shouldn't have made the joke. He's so young he feels he has a lot to prove."

"How far apart are you?"

"Ten years."

"Isn't that like a year in human time? You're young too."

"I suppose you're right."

"Being the crowned prince means you gotta take on more responsibility early on though, right?"

"That is also true. You know a lot for someone not acquainted with dwarves."

"I've read a lot of stories."

"So there are dwarves in your stories back home?" Fili looked impressed.

"Quite a few." Rayna confirmed.

"I should like to hear some."

"Maybe when your brother is awake. I'm sure he'd hate to miss them."

Fili held back a quick smirk, watching the apples of Raynas cheeks go red, "I'm sure you're right."

They didn't speak much more during the ride. A chuckle at Kili's snoring here or there, but like the rest of the company they mostly stayed silent.

Kili jolted himself awake some hours later. Gripping his bedroll he looked around for the reigns, only to find they lead right into Rayna's hands.

With a sigh of relief he gave them a gentle tug, getting Raynas attention so she let them go.

"Thank you. I guess I couldn't stay awake."

"Fili said you were up all night."

"I was."

"Don't beat yourself up over the joke, Kili. Mistakes are for learning." Rayna offered him a smile that brought a warmth into his chest as he lost his words and couldn't seem to respond. Kili offered her a nod and quickly looked straight ahead, falling back in line.

Kili was thankful he woke when he did. The rain started falling heavy and fast. The only one who didn't seem too bothered, that Kili could see, was Rayna. He watched her as she held her hand out to catch the drops. As occasionally she would look up, eyes closed. He began imagining what her smile looked like since he couldn't see it from where he was.

"Mr. Gandalf! Can you do something about this deluge?" Dori called to the wizard.

"It's raining Master Dwarf! And it will continue to rain until the rain is done! If you want to change the weather go find yourself another wizard!"

"Are there?"

"Are there what?"

"Other wizards." Bilbo spoke as if Gandalf should have known the obvious.

"There are five of us. Our wisest is Saruman, The White." the short pause Gandalf gave almost gave time for Rayna to make a snide comment, she thought better of it though, "Then there are the two blueses, and I've quite forgotten their names. And Radagast, the Brown."

"Is he a good wizard, or is he more like... you?" Bilbo said.

Rayna let the insult sit for a moment before Dori spoke again, "Give me whichever can make the rain stop."

"Oh come on Dori! Enjoy it. It's cathartic."

"Cath what?"

Rayna held her hands out wide and began to sing, "And I was dancing in the rain I felt alive and I can't complain!"

Kili watched, smiling as she sang, but as she kept singing he felt the wonder of her turn into a loss.

"But now take me home, take me home where I belong! I got no other place to go! Now take me home, take me home where I belong. I can't take it anymooooore."

"I can't take this rain anymore!" Dori laughed.

"And I can't take either of you." Dwalin commented, earning laughter from the dwarves around them. Even Fili, although Kili couldn't quite figure out why he couldn't muster a laugh, and why he couldn't shake the feeling that he was losing something important.