Heart Of Stone

Chapter Six

Bilbo makes his way down the rocks to where the Company and Gandalf are waiting to hear Bilbo's spy report. Fawn was amidst the group, atop her scarred Warg, Fang. Her hair flowed down her back and a metal eye patch lay over her right eye, the word 'Vala' etched into it in cursive. The patch was given to her by Bifur who earned himself a kiss on the cheek. Fawn's hair was disheveled and she was covered in dirt. She wore a black shirt that stopped at her midriff, black trousers, a sleeveless fur jacket, fingerless gloves, with spikes on the knuckles, her whips on her hips, her bow and swords on her back. She looked ready for war. Fang had his head raised and it's eyes scanning their surroundings. Such a good watch hound.

"How close is the pack?" Dwalin asks.

"Too close. A couple of leagues, no more, but that is not the worst of it."

"Have the Wargs picked up our scent?"

"Not yet, Dwalin, but they will; we have another problem."

"Did they see you? They saw you!" Gandalf says, worried.

"No, that's not it."

Gandalf smiles and turns to the dwarves. "What did I tell you? Quiet as a mouse. Excellent burglar material."

The dwarves chuckle loudly in appreciation of Bilbo. Bilbo looks exasperated that no one is hearing him out. Fawn sighs, feeling sorry for the poor hobbit. "Will you listen- Will you just listen? I'm trying to tell you there is something else out there."

The dwarves look worried and Fawn and Gandalf tensed. Please don't let it be what we think. "What form did it take? Like a bear?" Fawn questions.

"Ye..." Bilbo pauses and looks curiously at her. "Y- yes. But bigger, much bigger."

"You knew about this beast?" Bofur asks her. "I say we double back."

"And be run down by a pack of Orcs." Thorin says begrudgingly

Gandalf walks away from the group. "There is a house, it's not far from here, where we might take refuge."

"Whose house? Are they friend or foe?" Thorin questions.

"Neither. He will help us, or he will kill us."

Fawn and the dwarves looks at each other in dismay.

"What choice do we have?" Thorin sighs.

A roar splits the night behind them; it is the bear. Fang growls.

Gandalf looks at Thorin, a grim look on his face. "None."

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The company is running through plains and across streams, Fang and Fawn trailing, Fawn's bow at the ready just in case. They dart into a forest. They all stop suddenly at the sound of a ear-splitting roar. Gandalf sucks in a sharp breath. "This way, quickly!"

As the dwarves panic and run, Bombur looks on in shock until he is pulled along by Bofur. "Bombur, come on!"

As they exit the forest, they spy a house surrounded by a hedge in the middle of a plain. "To the house! Run!" Fawn bellows. The Company runs across the plain; Bombur, the fattest dwarf, outruns all the rest of them in his fear. Fawn raises her brows in amazement. Well then... They run through a gate in the hedge.

"Come on, get inside!"

They run to the front door of the house; it is closed. Bombur, who reaches the door first, throws himself against it but falls flat on his back when the door doesn't budge. The rest of the dwarves catch up and begin throwing themselves against the door, trying to open it. Gandalf looks back as a massive bear breaks out from the edge of the forest and runs toward them. "Open the door!"