Fire and Water ThorinxMermaid!OC

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By the grace of the stars, the company was able to go three weeks until Azog's pack had caught their trail. They had been hunting them off and on as the dwarves would almost always find a way to give the orcs the slip—sometimes loosing their trail entirely. But now they were the closest they'd been to finding the company. They drew ever closer and many in the company were worried that they had no where to hide now, including Loreth.

Bilbo came running back down the hill after scouting. Dwalin questioned him, "how close is the pack?"

Bilbo caught his breath and put his hands on his hips, "too close. A couple of leagues, no more, but that's not the worst of it."

"Have the wargs picked up our scent?" Loreth worried.

Bilbo shook his head, "not yet, but they will, but we have another problem."

"Did they see you? They saw you!" Gandalf's voice was riddled with concern. No one was giving Bilbo a chance to speak. Loreth felt sorry for the hobbit.

"No, that's not it!"

Gandalf looked to the dwarves," what did I tell you? Quiet as a mouse! Excellent burglar material." He beamed and chuckled. The dwarves joined in, happy to have their hobbit with them.

"Will you let Bilbo speak?" Loreth's voice boomed. She wasn't sure where the impatience came from, but Bilbo needed to say his piece.

Bilbo graciously nodded at her, "Thank you, Loreth. As I was saying, there is something else out there."

At his words Gandalfs smiled fell and a serious expression crossed his blue eyes, "What form did it take? Like a bear?"

Bilbo had a look of surprise come over him, "y-yes, but bigger. Much bigger."

Bofur turned to Gandalf, "you knew about this beast?"

Instead of answering Bofur—which Loreth thought was rather rude, the wizard turned away and looked towards the forrest.

The dwarves took his silence for a 'yes' and began fretting and fighting over what they should do. Double back and be run down by an orc pack? Nonsense. There had to be something else. Loreth looked to Thorin with concern etched in her features. He brought up his hand to cup her cheek and bring to his chest in a sweet hug. Loreth gladly melted into it.

Gandalf spoke after a moment, " there is a house where we might take refuge."

Thorin was skeptical about that, "whose house? Are they friend or foe?"

Gandalf's next words weren't comforting in the slightest, "neither. He will help us or he will kill us." Loreth gulped at that.

"What choice do we have?" Thorin asked in dismay. The warg howls in the distance.

Just then a piercing roar split through the night, making Loreth jump.

"None. Run!"

They ran across plains and over streams of water. The warg howls were mixed with the terrifying roars of a bear-like beast. Both were gaining on them. Loreth pushed her legs as fast as they could take her until a quaint little house came into view. That had to be their destination. They neared the house and the sound of foliage breaking behind them sent the woman's heart into a panic. They needed to get that door open quickly or they were all going to be torn to shreds.

The company watched her pop away leaving a mist of salt water and sea foam, reappearing right beside the gigantic wooden doors, a league in front of the group.