Some Hearts

5.

Chapter 5:

"Gandalf, where did you go if I may ask? " Thorin approached us once more, thus ending that conversation.

"To look ahead."

"What brought you back?"

"Looking behind, nasty business. Still, they're all in one piece."

"No thanks to your burglar or you, ranger." He said looking at me with discontent.

"Bilbo had the nous to play for time. None of the rest of you thought of that."

"He's right, the hobbit stalled until Gandalf returned and the dawn ultimately saved all of us." I added.

"They must have come down from the Ettenmoors." Gandalf said looking at the stone creatures.

"Since when do mountain trolls venture this far south?" Thorin asked.

"I wish I could say this was my first run-in with the kind, but there were two other pairs I've seen in the past months." I looked at Gandalf.

"It's been an age, not since a darker power ruled these lands." Gandalf had a new concern about his features. This worried me as well.

"They could not have moved in the daylight." I looked around the surrounding foliage curiously.

"There must be a cave nearby." Thorin said and strode past me to have the dwarves spread out in search of it.

"Just follow your noses!" I hollered after the company.

"Excellent advice." Gandalf said following suit. I trailed behind the two young princes and soon, I picked up a pungent stench from the east.

"This way..."

Soon the others were now following me. I saw the opening and allowed Gandalf and others to enter first. I had no need for treasures. I chuckled as they complained about the smell and the wizard warned them of touching things. I walked in slowly after the others and examined each piece of filth or treasure looking for anything of value to me, mainly any weapons.

"These swords were not made by any troll," Thorin whispered, having found a pile of elvish blades. He picked up the two largest ones in awe. I quickly came up next to him to examine the makes.

"Nor where they made by any smith among men." I whispered and reached for a third, slightly shorter sword.

"These were forged in Gondolin, by the High Elves of the First Age." Thorin now huffed in disgust.

"You could not wish for a finer blade!" Gandalf scolded him. Thorin paused but eventually decided to take the sword.

The other dwarves seemed to be filling their pockets and some even buried a chest filled with gold items. I shook my head the action, however, I did not fail to grab a handful of coins myself to refill my purse.

Once out in the sun, I examined the blade I had recovered. It was light and also of elvish make. The hilt was silver with black leather binding, but there was a clear gem embedded in the base of the blade. It was not sparkling like a diamond would but was crystal clear and reflected light.

"What you got there lass?" I looked over to see Fili and Kili walking up to me. They had stayed outside to watch for any danger.

"An elvish blade, I have not much use for the treasure your companions found."

"It looks like a magnificent sword; too thin for my likening thought. I prefer my broad sword." Kili said pulling out his blade in an attempt to show off.

"Ah, I've seen your skills already. You are skilled for your age, but perhaps we can spar, once I get this cleaned properly."

"I'd look forward to it." He said with a wink.

"So how did you end up with the trolls?" Fili asked.

"They uprooted the tree I had decided to sleep in for the night."

"That's unfortunate; if it weren't for us you'd been troll food."

"I am very thankful for Bilbo indeed."

"I think we helped a little bit." Kili insisted.

"If you call landing on me and almost crushing my ribs helping, you did an excellent job, my Prince." Fili laughed at my rebuttal to his brother.

"I like you. I'm Fili, by the way, at your service."

"Caralith at yours as well, my Prince."

"How did you know were princes?" Fili asked shocked at my title for him.

"Gandalf only introduced your uncle and you two by name."

"Ah, I'll do introductions then." Kili affirmed with a nod towards the dwarves filtering out.

"I'll leave you to that Kili. Don't tell her too many of our secrets, you just met the lass." Fili said teasing and patted his brother's shoulder. I sat down against an outfitted boulder opposite the hoard's entrance.

"First, Mr. Bilbo Baggins is our homely little hobbit. Brooding around with the axe embedded in his head is Bifur. He only speaks Khuzdul but one of us can help you if you have questions or need to talk to him. His cousins are Bofur the one with the wool hat and Bombur the round red headed dwarf. Next, you have Mr. Dwalin and Mr. Balin, brothers. Dwalin is the tall grumpy fella with no hair, but he's a real softy when he wants to be. Balin is uncle's best friend and top advisor even back in the mountain's time. He has a great white beard and is maybe the shortest of us all. The next set of brothers is Gloin and Oin. Gloin also is red-haired and can be standoffish. Oin is our healer and a very caring dwarf. Finally Ori, Nori, and Dori, they're all cousins from the line of Ri. Were all distantly related now that I come to think of it." He continued with his descriptions of the last three members of the company. He had pointed each out as they passed by us. Some gave me a kind smile like Balin and Bofur, but others gave me stern glares or grunts like Dwalin and Gloin, matching his listed personality traits.

"And last, but not least, leaves you two youngins." I teased looking at Kili and patted his cheek. He blushed and looked down at his hands.

"Not to be rude and ask your age Caralith, but you do look rather young. Perhaps 20, maybe 25." He said taking a guess.

"You are off quite a bit my prince, but that is because I am of the Dunedain, blessed with long life. I am to be 63 this summer."

"So, I'm technically older than you! Ha! I am 77!" He smirked obviously proud to not be the youngest in the group.

"In years I do suppose you are correct, but if we're talking maturity, I'd say I win by a long shot." I teased the young prince.

"Guess, it's a good thing I like younger women then?" He shot back and I found myself blushing.

"Noted, my Prince." I said looking down at my new sword and running a cloth along the blade edge, honestly not having a good comeback for his flirting. He smiled triumphantly and sat down next to me. He rested his head back against the boulder and shut his eyes. I let him do as he pleased, for if their journey continued, I was unsure what kind of rest he would have in the future.