Flames

2.2

Azalea climbed the tree with Bilbo, craving fresh air. The trees surrounding them began to suffocate her. Besides, someone had to make sure he didn't fall and die. Bilbo looked through the leaves while Azalea rested on a lower branch. She thought about the previous night, about how Thorin acted like he really cared for her, wanted to be friends with her. He hadn't brought it up again, and neither had she, but she couldn't stop thinking about it.

Bilbo started talking, and Azalea tried to listen. She couldn't focus long enough to register anything. The scene of Thorin trying to teach her his song kept replaying in her mind.

It probably meant nothing, she thought. He was probably just trying to distract me from the nightmare long enough for me to calm down. 

Then she thought about how worried he'd been in Rivendell, whether he'd admit it or not. He'd come to see her, even though he didn't have to. Her mind wandered to the hug when they'd seen Erebor.

It means nothing. It would never work. It would never work.

"Azalea?" Bilbo asked, breaking her from her thoughts. 

"Yeah?" she replied.

"We have to go. The mountain's east of us," Bilbo said. "What were you thinking about?"

"Just things," Azalea replied. They began climbing down the tree.

"What kind of things?" the Hobbit asked.

"Just things, Bilbo."

"Things like dwarves? Or maybe a certain dwarf?" Bilbo pressed. Azalea turned bright red and looked down at the branches beneath her.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Azalea stammered.

"Is it Thorin?" Bilbo asked.

"Wh-what? N-no. Why would I be...why...why would you even..." Azalea spluttered, her face now a deep scarlet. Bilbo laughed at her.

"Don't worry, I won't tell him," he promised.

"Thank you."

They kept climbing. Eventually, they reached the bottom of the tree.

"What did you see?" Gandalf demanded. Bilbo began to explain everything.

"Yes, we must head east."

They made their way through the forest, suddenly Gandalf froze. Azalea followed his gaze. A large, bear-like beast stood several yards away.

"Run! Quick, to that barn!" Gandalf exclaimed. The dwarves, Bilbo, Azalea, and the wizard bolted in the opposite direction of the bear. Thorin found Azalea and grabbed her hand. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Bilbo smile.

The run across the field seemed to take forever and no time at all. Thorin never let go of Azalea until they were safe behind closed barn doors. Azalea put her hands behind her head as she paced the length of  the barn-like house, trying to catch her breath.

"What was that thing, Gandalf?" one of the dwarves asked.

"That was our host," Gandalf said grimly. "We should be safe here tonight. Get some rest. I think we will all need it."