A Journey I'll Always Remember (Kili x Reader)

Chapter 7: Trolls

We had completed the first day of riding and night hung over the forest. I'd officially never been this far from the Shire and the feeling was unnerving yet exhilarating. "We sleep here for the night. Fili and Kili, take the first night watch." Thorin instructed his two nephews who sat perched on a rock against the cliff. I used my bag as pillow and wrapped my cloak around me as a makeshift blanket. I shivered under the cold night sky and and chilling wind that penetrated my clothes, while the dwarves snoring kept me wide awake.

Coming to the decision that I wasn't going to sleep any time soon I grunted, stood up and brushed off the dirt that had collected on my clothes from dirt to moss. I tiptoed around Bombur and Bofur before I made it to Fili and Kili, who were by the fire. Fili was smocking his pipe with leisure while gazing off and Kili sharpened his dagger. "Can't sleep?" Kili whispered whilst moving up on the rock he was sat on which I sat down on. "It's just a lot quieter in the Shire." I admitted, missing the comforts of home.

"You'll get used to it," Kili was silent for a few beats before he gave a knowing look "And I know it's the snoring keeping you up. I've had to deal with it my whole life." I laughed quietly. "As if you don't snor." I nudged his shoulder with mine.
"While being the youngest dwarf, I am also the quietest. Not a peep from me." Fili in the corner snorted as he removed his pipe from between his lips "Anyone would be a fool to believe that, Kili. You are my younger brother and I can tell you now, you are far from the quietest. He's just trying to save face, Juliette."

I couldn't help but quietly laugh at the two brothers who bickered. Kili furrowed his brows before picking up a smooth pebble before tossing it at his brother who dodged it in his seat with ease. At the corner of my eye I saw that Bilbo also couldn't get to sleep. He pulled an apple out of his pocket and fed it to one of the ponies. "Shh, here don't tell anyone." I heard him whispering to the pony. Suddenly, a loud and godawful screech pierced the air far away and my mood shifted. "What was that?" Bilbo walked over to us by the fire, pointing to whatever was in the dark forest below the cliff.

"Orcs. There ought to be dozens of them out there." Fili was crouched in the corner smoking his pipe with his feet up. Kili's face had dropped as he spoke "They attack in the wee small hours, no noise...just lots of blood." My mouth slightly parted and I sucked in a breath at the horrors of the world; not wanting to know what was out there. Fear twisted as a knot deep in my stomach until I saw Kili and Fili smirk and exchange a mischievous glance.

"You think a night raid by Orcs is to be joked about?" Thorin scolded his nephews as he stormed past and gazed over the black forest "We didn't mean anything by it." Kili apologised with regret in his tone; like a child being scolded by their parent "No," Thorin said with distaste "You know nothing of the world."

Balin had appeared almost out of nowhere as he leaned against the stone "Don't take it personally lads, Thorin has the most reason to hate Orcs." Balin began to tell us about Thorin's past and how Azog murdered had King Thror. Thorin endured the horrors and anguish of battle with only a sword and single log of wood to defend himself. Azog the Defiler had been defeated and crawled back into his cave, the Dwarves were stranded; no home. And here we are. 

I sat there devastated as I couldn't even imagine the hardship Thorin had experienced, and suddenly my problems of homesickness had felt selfish. I looked over to Thorin, he was staring out into the distance with the moonlight beaming down on his face, listening to the story that all dwarves know well. I puffed out air from my lips as I stood "I should get some sleep." I mumbled as I stepped around the fire. Everyone murmured their good nights to me as I walked away. As I passed Thorin, stood still like a proud statue, I paused. "We will restore the Misty Moutains; you will have a home."

The narrowing of his eyes was minuscule before he said "What difference will two hobbits make?" The comment was a slight kick to the stomach but I swallowed the emotions and sympathised with the king. I followed his gaze over the land that stretched for miles, illuminated by the pale silver rays of moonlight, and the stars that winked through the darkness. "You'd be surprised," I told him "Goodnight, Thorin." He bowed his head in response as I walked away and resumed my spot on the stone and attempted to get a few hours of slumber.