The Protector of Kings

Former Lives and Strings of Bad Luck

Former Lives and Strings of Bad Luck

Vienna

Stupid.

Stupid, stupid, Vienna lectured as she couched in a nearby tree. The Company was exploring the Troll's cave for trinkets and gold. Stupid, stupid stupid. She wasn't sure who the lecture was for exactly. For the Dwarves, who should know better than to rummage through a dirty Troll cave. Any goods would smell like shite and rotting flesh until the dawn of the next age. Maybe it was for Gandalf, who should know better than to let the Dwarves rummage through a random Troll cave. Who could even tell how long it had been there. There was no telling what items were cursed or evil. Maybe he wanted to press his luck. She knew with hers, the Dwarf King would end up cursed. Vienna could almost see the smug look on Gandalf's face as he asked her to cure him. So sorry Wizard, I'm all out of gifts for you to exploit.

No matter her frustration at the others, Vienna knew the lecture was truly for herself. She never should have let herself get so close. Listening in to the tail end of the Dwarf King and his Warrior, she knew she'd messed up. Of course, they'd heard ridiculous tales about her. She wouldn't deny the truth of them, but they weren't inspiring moments of bravery. It was her punishment for failing so miserably so many times. So many times, she sighed to herself. Of course, they'd recognized her. Thankfully, her attire gave away little details of her person. The black pants and long sleeved tunic were plain enough. She wore a steel line, leather vest with bronze accents that covered most of her figure and the copious, brown leather belt and pockets gave the illusion of a straight set of hips. It was always slightly laughable when people automatically assumed she was a man, but there was very little she could do about that if she wanted to remain unknown.

She sat back against the tree's trunk, a few branches up and out of sight. Her breath steadied and she looked down at the gash on her leg. She wasn't sure when it'd happened, but at some point with the Trolls, she'd been cut. Reaching into her small pack, she pulled out a small jar and spread some water-based poultice on the gash. It stung for a moment before setting. She watched closely as the skin slowly stitched itself back together. Vienna chuckled and she slid a finger over the fresh skin. That never gets old.

A warg's cry broke through Vienna's thoughts. Cursing under her breath, she tossed the salve back in her pack, slung it over her back, and jumped down from her perch. The Dwarves were now standing outside the cave, the body of a warg laying a few feet away as Vienna crept closer. Gandalf started yelling at the Dwarf King about the secrecy of their quest, who replied in turn that no one beyond the party was told. That doesn't matter, she thought to herself. They were sighted in Bree to gather supplies. They made themselves obvious.

Vienna crouched behind a rock, she used her superior hearing to scan the area. The Orcs were closer than the party knew and she knew it would be moments before the small cave entrance was surrounded.

"I'll draw them off," Radagast's voice sounded. Vienna peeked over the boulder to see the Brown Wizard, equipped with his sleigh and rabbits. She stifled a scoff. This is going to be interesting.

Casting a quick glance over the Company, she could spot new weapons scattered amongst them. She rolled her eyes. They are going to get themselves killed. A large part of her wanted to check their pockets, just to see how much gold would weigh them down for the rest of the journey. Who knew where it had all been before the Trolls stole it. Or who's it had been. Or worse, how much of it was cursed.

As another howl rang out, Radagast tore off with his sleigh and rabbits. Gandalf led the Company off in another direction. Vienna was almost tempted to follow after them, but she knew where they were headed. Recalling the brief argument between the Wizard and the Dwarf King about the Elves and what assistance they would or wouldn't offer the Company of Dwarves, there was only one place Gandalf would take them, only one place where they could go and find refuge with a pack of Orcs on their trail.