Bring On The Wonder[Thorin Oakenshield]

Chapter Three: Screams in the Night

Bella and Bombur had prepared a wonderful stew for the others. She filled bowl after bowl and finally she filled her own and went and took a seat near Bilbo. Some of the dwarves had been making him feel unwelcome, especially the leader. She found him quite cold and distant, but maybe that was the way he wanted to be, he was clearly someone who didn't like to engage in conversation and be close to anyone. Bella was in a way, was in the same predicament as the hobbit with the dwarves, but most of them had accepted her presences, even the dwarf king's fearless warrior had even grown a liking to her stubborn attitude and found her cooking far better then Bombur's causing him to go back for thirds. "Are you alright, Bilbo?"

The hobbit was shocked, that someone was concerned about him. He was sure he was invisible to all of them. "Oh, I am alright, thank you Bella. This stew is delicious." The hobbit applauded. She smiled at him, but knowing she couldn't take all the credit.

" Bombur, made most of it, I just added my secret spice." She admitted. with a smirk. The young lad smiled back at her, feeling a little better that she at-least made him feel welcomed. Bella took this moment and looked through the flames where Thorin was sitting. The dwarf was sitting with Balin and Dwalin. Bella had only traveled with them for a few days with the dwarves but she noticed along the way, that Balin was something of a father figure to Thorin. He went to him for everything and Dwalin was like a younger brother to him. He trusted him with his life, they were his family and his nephews. It made her think of her own family, she had left them so unexpectedly. The woman wasn't even sure what caused her too leave, she didn't feel as if she belonged. Bella could still remember months ago when she wrote that note. explaining to her brother why she had to leave and that she needed to find her purpose in life. Not long after that was when the wizard had found her, wandering the wild and propose this quest to her and that she had a destiny with in this quest, but like all riddles she had to figure it out on her own.

The dwarves were slowly making their way over to their sleeping area's they had set up. The woman let out a yawn and forced herself to the confines of her resting area. Bella had her bed set up near the fire, she used her cloak as her blanket and wrapped it around her and she closed her eyes. Thorin's eyes slowly shut after he saw the young woman sound asleep and the fire continued to 'crack' around them. 

Its later in the night, everyone's sound asleep, except for Fili, Kili and the wizard, who were on watch encase someone or something came to surprise them. The hobbit woke up abruptly from the loud noises around him, it annoyed him more when he realize that it was just the dwarves continuous rhythmic snores that was happening around him. The woman was not having much luck either, she rolled onto her side, opening her eyes and she saw the hobbit walking over, carefully, so he wouldn't wake any of the others up. Bilbo's mood had quickly changed when he approached his pony,[Myrtle]. He wanted to get more acquainted with his mount. Bilbo did a quick glance to make sure no one was watching him and brought something out of his pocket. He held it in the palm of his hand, and slowly moved it towards the ponies mouth and the animal took it graciously. The hobbit was feeling rather pleased with himself at this accomplishment. Bella smiled to herself, Bilbo was one of those rare people who always tried to see the good in anyone or anything. The hobbits mood quickly turned to fear when sudden screams sounded in the night. It came again and he rushed over to Fili and Kili.

"What was that?" Bilbo asked, worriedly. He jumped when the piercing sound came again.

"Orcs...."Kili answered.

"Orcs?" Bilbo repeated, confused. Bella was sitting up. They were close, but she wasn't sure how close.

" Throat cutters." Fili explained. Bella turned around to listen to the brothers. " There'll be dozens of them out there. The lowlands are crawling with them." The dwarf continued. Bella looked at the hobbit, and notice his face had gone a little pale. 

"They strike in the wee small hours, when everyone's asleep. Quick and quiet; no screams, just lots of blood." Kili added. The woman narrowed her eyes at the two brothers and got up. She hated orcs more than anything and when anyone joked about those vile creatures made her sick inside and she got up and walked over to the two dwarves that were now laughing at this.

"You think that's funny?" Thorin's voice towered over them, causing the two young lads to stop chuckling. "You think a night raid by orcs is a joke?" 

" We didn't mean anything by it." Kili quickly said, feeling guilty now for upsetting his uncle. Thorin look at them both in disappointment." No, you didn't. You know nothing of the world." The dwarf grumbled as he trudged past the hobbit and the woman until he was at the edge of the cliff and he stared at the valley below them. 

"Don't mind him, laddie." Balin assured the two young dwarf's. " Thorin has more cause than most to hate orcs." The elder dwarf let out a sigh, before telling the story. Bella leaned against the rock she was sitting near and listened intently to the story being told.

"After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain, King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient kingdom of Moria. But our enemy had got there first. Moria had been taken by legions of orcs, lead by the most vile of all their race: Azog, the Defiler." Bella's eyes widen, she had only heard whispers from others of the Defiler, but none had ever lived who faced the creature. " The giant Gundabad orcs had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin. He began by beheading the king. Thrain, Thorin's father, was driven mad by grief. He went missing, taken prisoner or killed, we did not know. We were leaderless. Defeat and death were upon us. " Balin stated, sadly, but looked to the leader with a smile, before continuing. " That is when I saw him: a young dwarf prince facing down the pale orc. He stood alone against this terrible foe, his armor rent...wielding nothing but an oaken branch as a shield. Azog, the Defiler, learned that day that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken. Our forces rallied and drove the orcs back. Our enemy had been defeated. But there was no feast, no song, that night, for our dead were beyond the count of grief. We few had survived."

Bella glanced in the leaders direction, she suddenly felt a new admiration for this dwarf. He had lost so much to this pale orc and yet he still was willing himself to fight to take back their homeland and give his people the life they deserve. The woman quickly looked away and continued to listen to Balin. " And I thought to myself then, there is one who I could follow. There is one I could call King." The elder dwarf declared as he looked to his leader and friend with loyalty and respect. The others had already risen around Bella and Bilbo to look at their king in awe for the sacrifices he had already made for them and would follow him to whatever end. 

"But the pale orc? What happened to him?" The hobbit dared to ask. 

"He slunk back into the hole whence he came. That filth died of his wounds long ago." Thorin growled as he walked passed the others back to his spot where he was resting. Bella looked at the wizard, who shrugged his shoulders. The dwarves wandered back to their spots, dawn would be here soon. Bella was on her side, resting her head on her satchel and eventually closed her eyes once again.