Smaug's daughter

Ben Dover

They hadn't been too pleased when I announced that I was joining them. And that was even after I specified it was only to watch the horses. Turns out that I, just as Beorn, could somewhat communicate with animals. It might sound strange, but I understood them, and they understood me. He must have taught me when I was young. It was really coming in handy and I hadn't even scripted it!

"I am not taking responsibility for her." Thorin argued, but Beorn just shrugged. "Arien can take care of herself. If she cannot come, then the horses will not go."

Thorin was visibly annoyed - as if he knew it was a ploy - but he couldn't turn down the horses or they would never make it to the mountain in time. Gandalf and the rest, however, seemed fine with me tagging along.

Everyone but me and Gandalf were riding ponies. My horse was tall, white and sassy. I loved her. Even if I hadn't been able to understand her, I had taken classes when I was around 13 and it was basically like riding a bicycle. My body remembered how.

"Go now while you have the light." Beorn advised. We didn't need to be told twice. I gave him a final wave before I urged my horse to follow the others. I made sure to stay as far away from Bilbo as I possibly could. The calling from the ring was still loud. It was really annoying. I wondered if Gandalf felt the same way? It was like having someone constantly whisper at you. I might be tempted to grab it just to make it shut up. Sauron was one chatty motherfucker.

While my body remembered the technicalities of riding a horse, I did not remember how tiring it was. We rode for hours and hours and the end was nowhere in sight. My butt got so sore I couldn't imagine it would ever not hurt. When we finally made it to the forest I wasn't even pleased about it because it would mean I would have to get off the horse and I wasn't so sure I would be able to walk. Riding horses in movies always seemed like the easy way to travel, but this was hard freaking work. Next time I'd rather walk.

The horses were upset by the forest. Even if I hadn't been able to understand them, that much would be obvious. They refused to walk close to it.

Wincing as I dismounted, I realized my butt wasn't the only victim of this trip, my thighs and back also ached. By the time I felt ready to take a step, Gandalf had already entered through the battered elven gates that led into the forest. "Here lies our path through Mirkwood." He announced. He didn't sound very pleased about it and neither did the dwarves. It was very enemies to lovers of elves and dwarves to despise the other so vehemently.

Suddenly feeling as though someone was staring at me, I straightened, pretending the trip hadn't affected me at all. Moments later, I caught Thorin's eye, but he quickly looked away.

"No sign of the Orcs. We have luck on our side." Dwalin said before dismounting.

"Set the ponies loose." Gandalf declared from just within the forest gates. "Let them return to their master."

"What about her? I thought she was returning with them?" Thorin pressed. I pretended to be busy studying my horse for injuries and that I hadn't heard them discussing me.

"I cannot tell a grown elf-maiden what to do." Gandalf replied, blinking at me."Besides, I have a feeling she will prove herself to be quite useful." I smirked back at him. Gandalf then walked further into the forest before Thorin could argue.

I could hear the ring's whispering increase in volume before I saw Bilbo fiddling with his pockets. The sound made my cringe as if someone had poked me with a burning needle. I patted my horse and bade her goodbye. She didn't want to leave me, but reluctantly obeyed, leaving with the others.

Gandalf just about came running out of the forest at that time. "Not my horse! I need it!" He exclaimed to Gloin who was just about to let it go.

"What?" He quipped.