Lost Starlight [Book Two]

Chapter Three

Arirua stood quietly, waiting for the hobbit to come back from his scouting expedition. All around her, the dwarves shuffled around, muttering their worries under their breath. Somewhere in the distance, the star could hear the howls and barks of Azog's warg pack. Her hand tightened on her sword.

Branches snapped behind her and the star turned to see the hobbit rushing back to them as quickly as he could. She walked towards the small path in the mountain side, along with the rest of the Company. Like her, they were all eager to hear the news the small being had for them.

"How close is the pack?" Thorin demanded.

The first few days had been fine. There hadn't been any signs of the warg pack, but early in the morning, before the sun had even risen in the sky, Dwalin had woken everyone from their sleep, telling them that the pack had caught their scent.

"Too close." Bilbo told him, rushing towards them. "A couple of leagues, no more. But that's the worst of it." He slowly came to a stop in the middle of the small pocket in the mountains the Company had taken refuge in.

Arirua felt fear grip her heart.

"Have the wargs picked up our scent?" Dwalin asked him.

"Not yet." he answered, slightly out of breath. "But they will. We have another problem."

"Did they see you?" Gandalf questioned. Bilbo wiped around to look at the tall wizard and everyone's heart stopped for a moment. "They saw you."

"No, that's not it." Bilbo said, trying to sound reassuring, but Arirua could see that something was bothering him.

"What did I tell you?" Gandalf asked the Company with a smile. The star could hear how proud he was of the hobbit. "Quiet as a mouse. Excellent burglar material."

The Company started talking all at once, agreeing whole-heartedly with the wizard.

"Will you listen?" Bilbo said, raising his voice. "Will you just listen? I'm trying to tell you there is something else out there."

"Bilbo," Arirua said softly, making everyone in the group look at her, slightly surprised to hear anything from her, "what did you see?"

The Company all quickly looked at the hobbit, waiting for what he had to say.

But it was Gandalf who spoke.

"What form did it take? Like a bear?"

"Ye-Yes, but bigger." the hobbit stammered, voice filled with surprise. "Much bigger."

"You knew about this beast?" Bofur asked.

"Gandalf," Arirua said, stepping away from Kili who she had been standing next to and towards the wizard, "please tell me it is not whom I think it is."

"I say we double back!" Bofur told the Company. Arirua didn't look at him; she was staring at the wizard's back, waiting for his answer. She knew whom he was thinking about. And although she knew the man was a good, kind man, his other side was not so.