An Unexpected Journey

Chapter Fourteen: Being Hunted

Thorin was quick to cut down the approaching warg while Kíli shot down the next one that had been trying to sneak up on the company from behind; the others quickly searched the area while Gandalf frowned.

“Apart from your kin who did you tell about your quest?” the grey wizard demanded stalking forward, Thalia stared at the creature that now lay dead at Thorin’s feet.

Trying to wrap her head around what had just happened, Thalia now knew what the voice had been talking about when it had said that danger was coming.

Ori offered Thalia a reassuring smile as Thorin denied telling anyone other than his kin about the quest; he glared at the wizard knowing that they needed to move if they had been found by scouts.

“Who did you tell?” Gandalf said in anger while Thalia took a deep breath and pulled her blue eyes away from the dead body of the warg, it wasn’t the time to have a break down; she needed to hold it together until they reached safety.

“Did you ever think that maybe it was you ripping a hole in reality that made these creatures chase us?” Thalia snapped making Gandalf frown, she glared at the wizard while he scowled straight back at her.

Thorin smirked knowing that maybe it wasn’t the best idea to get on the wrong side of Thalia, it was plain to see that the wizard was her least favourite member of the company.

Radagast chuckled as he watched Thalia, he had to admit she was much more different than the last one that his order had dragged through the realms and he had a feeling that, that was the reason that she had been chosen.

“I like this one… she’s a lot quicker than the last,” Radagast said making Thalia stare at him allowing the news to settle that she wasn’t the first witch that they had pulled from one realm to another; she hadn’t ever been born the last time someone had ripped a hole in reality.

“Now is not the time for that… we are being hunted,” Gandalf said changing the subject, Thalia didn’t trust him and this would only make things worse if she were to discover that she wasn’t the first that he hadn’t done that to; he just hoped that she wouldn’t ask him about it now.

Thalia glared at Gandalf, she had so many questions that she needed answering and yet he wasn’t giving her any answers; she huffed as Ori reappeared with the news that their ponies had taken off in fright.

“I'll draw them off,” Radagast said stepping forward as the group started to plan what they were going to do next; they needed a plan if they were being hunted so that they could escape.

Thalia held back a curse knowing that they were going to have to travel by foot from there and she knew that she was glad that she had put some good boots on to her feet for traveling.

“Those are Gundabad wargs. They will outrun you,” Gandalf said looking at his friend worried that he didn’t know what he was getting into when it came to the creatures that now hunted the company.

“These are Rhosgobel rabbits. I'd like to see them try,” Radagast said proudly making Thalia stare at him, she blinked wondering if the brown wizard had lost his mind.

***

Thalia panted softly keeping up with the rest of the company, she swallowed as they hurried behind another rock formation as they heard Radagast led the pack of wargs away from them.

Thalia jumped slightly as she felt a hand rest on her shoulder before she turned to see that it was just Fíli, he offered her a small smile as he stepped closer to her for protection; he glanced at his uncle knowing that he was doing this for him just as Kíli was.

“Go,” Gandalf urged quickly ushering the company forward they had to move now, he glanced at Thalia hoping that she did survive this; she was more important than she knew to this quest and he needed her to alive until the very end.

Fíli and Kíli stuck close to Thalia’s side as the group hurried through the fields, they ducked and hid behind one rock formation after another as Radagast kept the hunting party distracted.

“Memo to self… take up a more vagarious jogging routine when I get back home,” Thalia muttered under her breath, she ignored the curious look from the dwarf princes knowing that she didn’t want to explain her mutterings, she wanted to get out of this alive.

Thalia suddenly found herself pinned against the rock wall making her glare at the dwarf that had pinned her there; she huffed at the innocent look that Fíli gave her as everyone fell silent.

The sound of a warg climbing the rock that they were hiding behind reached Thalia’s ears, she tried to calm her breathing as if it would help keep her hidden amongst the dwarves; she closed her eyes as she tried to focus on keeping calm.

On instinct, Thalia had taken the hand of the dwarf next to her in comfort making him glance at her before he turned his attention to Kíli and nodded his head knowing that this was the perfect time to shoot at the warg and its rider.

Kíli swallowed pulling out an arrow and took a deep breath before he hurried out from the hiding spot and fired it at the warg that screeched in pain as it turned to face the dwarf prince; it slipped from the rock allowing Dwalin to hack at its neck with his battle axe.

Thalia was pulled by her hand out of the way and closer to the dwarf, she furrowed her brow confused before she realised that not only was she clutching at one of the dwarf’s hands but the dwarf in question was Thorin.

Thalia pulled away from him as a blush crept up her face as she looked away from the dwarf king as the warg and its orc rider were killed; however the noise it had made upon being killed had attracted the rest of the hunting party.

“This way,” Gandalf said turning on his heel making Thorin look at him suspiciously, he knew that the wizard was up to something and he didn’t know what it was; they were very close to elfish territory and it made Thorin a little uncomfortable.

Thalia looked at Thorin knowing that whatever Gandalf was planning, it wasn’t going to end well if he was leading them anywhere near the elves; she knew that Thorin didn’t like them and none of the other dwarves appeared to like them either.

“Come on Thalia,” Kíli said stopping next to her, he smiled at her knowing that they had to hurry if they wanted to keep up with the wizard; she quickly started moving knowing that she must not fall behind.

Kíli watched Thalia go before he shared a look with his older brother, they had both noticed something and they knew that it had nothing to do with Thalia joining the company; they had a feeling that this something was a good thing were their uncle was concerned.

Gandalf hurried forward trying to spot the cave that he was looking for, he was sure that it was around somewhere and he just had to remember where; they needed to get away quickly if they wanted to escape the approaching wargs.

“Where are we going?” Thorin demanded coming to a stop beside the wizard, Gandalf was up to something; however before he could further question the wizard he heard something that made his heart lurch and made him worry, a yelp of pain.