Golden Thrones and Moonlight Veils (HOBBIT FANFICTION)

Misty Mountains

The further they traveled, the more Talessa's anxiety deepened. A sense of dread settled over her, one she hadn't felt in a very long time. All the foliage had disappeared—only bare rocks and snow remained—and the path had narrowed so much that they had to move in single file. As she looked up, dark clouds loomed overhead. Glancing back at Eline, riding behind her, she could see the worry on her friend's face.

"I really don't like this!" Eline shouted over the howling wind.

"Thorin sent Kíli and Fíli to find shelter. I'm sure they'll be back soon!" Talessa tried to sound calm, but she knew it didn't fool Eline.

Ýrdor rode behind them, his face impassive, though the way his eyes scanned their surroundings showed his unease. Talessa tried to spot Thorin, but he was too far ahead, leading the group. The horses were becoming anxious as well, their steps more jittery, their heads tossing. Talessa gently stroked her pony's mane, silently praying for it to stay calm, and closed her eyes for a moment. Instead of darkness, a vivid vision flashed before her—torrential rain, screaming wind, rocks flying through the air, terrified horses, and shouts of panic. Her eyes flew open, and though nothing had changed, the chill in the air had grown sharper. With trembling hands, she reached into her saddlebag for her gloves.

Just then, a brilliant flash of lightning lit the sky, followed by a deafening crack of thunder. Rain began to pour down in torrents. The horses pranced nervously as Thorin's voice shouted for them to keep moving. The once difficult path became treacherous, with loose stones tumbling into the ravine beside them. The ponies pressed close to the solid rock wall, their hooves slipping on the wet stone.

Talessa's veil became heavy and soaked, nearly blinding her. She clung to her pony's mane, her tears of fear mixing with the cold rain. All she could hear was the roaring storm, and the only thing she could make out was the dark cloak of a dwarf ahead of her.

Suddenly, an earsplitting crack reverberated, louder than the thunder, followed by the sound of tumbling rocks.

"Look out!" she heard Dwalin shout. Then another voice called, "Stone-giants! We're in the middle of their battle!"

A few pieces of the falling rock struck her horse, and the frightened animal reared and began backing toward the edge. Someone reached for the reins, but it only made the mare panic more. Talessa felt dizzy, her mind filled with the horrifying thought that if she fell into the ravine, she wouldn't be as lucky as Ranold had been.

Thorin's voice cut through the chaos, shouting for her to jump. For a moment, she imagined he was encouraging her to leap into the abyss, but then she realized what he meant. She struggled to swing her leg over the saddle, her drenched skirts tangling around her, but after a few desperate attempts, she managed to fall to the side.

Except her feet didn't touch the ground. She flailed, grasping for something—anything—but there was nothing but empty air. She was certain it was the end. Then, strong hands grabbed her wrist, pulling her back. In seconds, she found herself held securely by a pair of firm arms.

She clung to her rescuer, her legs trembling violently from shock.

"It's all right," she heard Thorin's voice, though it was unusually gentle. "You're safe now," he added before letting Eline take her. Talessa clung to her friend, burying her face in Eline's fiery curls as she stroked her head soothingly.

The realization hit her—she had lost her horse. Though she had only known the mare for a day, her heart ached at the loss of such a gentle creature. Her people were known for their deep love of horses, and Talessa was no different.

Fíli and Kíli appeared moments later, disheveled but unharmed.

"There are stone-giants fighting to the east, so we can't go on," Fíli reported grimly, and the dwarves groaned in frustration.