Not Forsaken

Chapter 18

The company had settled in for the night, Fili and Kili taking the first watch. Gandalf was puffing away at his pipe, most of the others were asleep. Luliana had put her bedroll near Gandalf, finding some comfort near him. She had drifted off to sleep. It was a clear night, cool, but mild for the time of year. The dwarves that were sleeping were snoring loudly, which annoyed Bilbo to no end.

Bilbo threw off his blanket angrily, and stood up, glaring at the dwarf next to him. He stomped off, to where, he wasn't sure. As he was making his way through the sleeping bodies, he kicked Luliana in the back. Before he knew it, he was on his back, with the small woman pinning him to the ground, her dagger in his throat.

"Oh! Oh my!" He cried. "P-please d-don't kill me!"

"Bilbo!" Luliana hissed at him. "What in the world!" She let the terrified hobbit up, quite startled herself. Gandalf chuckled to himself, and went on smoking his pipe.

"Bilbo, I'm sorry," she finally said to the hobbit, once she had steadied her nerves some. "It would be in your best interest to not wake me like that again."

"I dare say not!" Said poor Mr. Baggins, who was nearly frightened to death by what happened. He marched off towards the ponies, not saying another word.

Suddenly a horrible screeching sound rang through the air. Luliana dove for her bow and quiver. ORCS! She thought in a panic, unsure what to do.

"What was that?" Bilbo whispered, obviously frightened.

"Orcs." Said Kili.

"Orcs?" Bilbo questioned, nervously, louder than he meant. Thorin woke at the sound of Bilbo's frightened voice. He glanced around the camp, and caught sight of Luliana, standing  at the outer border of the camp, with an arrow in her bow, ready to fire at any moment.

Kili, in his typical way, tried his best to frighten the hobbit, making a joke of it. Luliana ran back to him, arrow pointing at his face, looking at him in disgust and horror. "Do you realize what you are saying?" She half whispered, half yelled at the young dwarf. "My parents were killed by orcs! And yes, there WAS lots of blood. They were half eaten, you FOOL!" She quickly stomped back to the outer edge of the camp, desperate to hold back the tears stinging her eyes.

"You think a night raid by orcs is a joke?!" Thorin asked his nephew angrily.

"We meant nothing by it." Kili pleaded, realizing his mistake.

"No. You did not. You know nothing of the world." Thorin shot back angrily. He went over to where Luliana was standing, careful not to startle her.

"Are you all right? Please, forgive my nephew. He is young and foolish." He looked at the poor woman who was visibly shaken and angry.

"He knows nothing of those filthy creatures. NOTHING!" She hissed, not even looking at the dwarf beside her. The tears were now streaming down her face.

"Luliana," Thorin pleaded gently, "please look at me."

She lowered her bow, and gazed slowly up at him. He recognized at once that she was terrified. "I have reason to hate them as well," Thorin started. "My grandfather, King Thror, was beheaded by the most vile of their kind. Azog the defiler."

She looked at his face, a wave of pain crossing his features. He continued, "Azog carved his name in my grandfather's severed head,after the battle in which we fought to retake the ancient dwarf city of Moria. My cousin Dain killed the filth, although I wish it had been my hand that took the foul creature's life."

"I am so sorry, Thorin. I did not know." Luliana answered at last. "I can imagine your pain. I truly can, for I have felt it myself."

She still looked terrified, thought Thorin. If only I could hold her and tell her I will protect her, that I would die for her!

"Luliana, you are safe here, with me.
With us I mean," he added quickly, not wanting to say too much. "Any dwarf here would protect you with their life, if need be." Thorin motioned to the rest of the dwarves, most of them awake by now.

"Thorin, no one in this company owes any sort of allegiance to me." She said, feeling quite foolish for her reaction, for letting her fear show so visibly. "They have only known me a few days, and yourself only two weeks."

"I promise you, that I will protect you with my very life woman! Do not argue with me! You are a part of this company, and as such you will have the protection of this company!" It had come out harsher than he intended, but Thorin wanted her to know that she was safe.

"I thank you for that, master dwarf." Luliana answered, a bit annoyed with his tone. "I am not accustomed to being protected. You will forgive me if it takes some getting used to."

"I am sorry, Luliana. I did not mean to be harsh with you," Thorin said after a few moments. "I give you my word. I will protect you with my very life, if I must. I promise you that."

He looked down at her, fixing his eyes upon hers, and placed his hands upon her shoulders. Luliana was glad they were so far from the fire, for she could feel her face go scarlet. He was so close to her. She could feel his breath on her forehead, and smell the leather of his coat. He spoke again, a whisper this time, "I promise. I will keep you safe." He held her for another moment, and let go. He had not meant to put his hands on her so suddenly, but he wanted, no, needed her to know that she did not have to fear.

"I thank you, Thorin Oakenshield." She smiled up at him through her lashes, her heart pounding in her chest. "I will do whatever I can to serve you well."

"Please, come sit with me. Neither of us will be sleeping, with orcs around." Said Thorin, taking a seat on a nearby boulder, and patting a spot next to him. "Do you smoke?" He asked her. "I have some fine tobacco. You may share it with me, if you would like."

His smile enraptured her. She was tempted to lie to him, but she quickly remembered how she had nearly choked to death in Bree when she had tried Gandalf's pipe. "I have never really enjoyed it," she finally confessed. "My father used to smoke, but mother would not let me." She smiled, thinking about how her mother used to scold her father any time he would light his pipe in the house.

"She didn't?" Said Thorin with a smile. "I am surprised. Most dwarf women love to smoke!" He chuckled, more of a low rumble, actually, that sent shivers down Luliana's spine. "Well, I may have to teach you myself," Thorin told her with a wink. "It calms the nerves, after all."

"So I have heard," said Luliana, a bit disgusted at the memory of Gandalf's pipe smoke that had almost made her vom.