Chapter 4

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"Orcs." Thorin whispered, still glaring ahead.

"They must be headed in the same direction we are." Dwalin said, now also glaring up ahead.

"What do we do?" Farin stammered.

"Nothing." Thorin insisted. "They shall be dealt with by the elves."

The company continued on. Thorin and Dwalin walked powerfully through Mirkwood, while Farin and Barin trudged behind.

It was clear they didn't want to come on this quest.

I ran into a big tree root and tumbled onto the uneven grounds. I could see the group from below the tall grass. Thorin looked behind, Dwalin did as well. I released all the breath from my lungs and sunk down into the grass.

And I remember a peculiar smell, I couldn't make it out, but it was a dreadful, horrid scent.

~

A little while passed, the sun began to set in the West. It couldn't pierce the mighty trees in the forest, but it gave a hazy, orange glow to it.

My eyes barely remained open, but not from exhaustion, it was the burden from within the heavy forest grounds. The company of Thorin showed it too, Barin placed his head upon Farin's shoulder as they walked. How that was possible escaped my knowledge.

Dwalin occasionally stopped, as breath nearly eluded him.

Thorin was forced to stop at times as well, leaning against a tree for support.

Farin, still with his brother's head on his shoulder, nearly took a sharp right turn as he walked with heavy eyes.

"The path is this way, Farin!" Thorin growled as he looked back.

Thorin began using his sword for support as he walked.

The path suddenly stopped, it was nowhere the eye could see, to them.

I continued to stay back as the group stopped and looked vigorously for the path.

"Look for it! All of you!" Thorin stated sternly.

"Barin! Get your head up, laddie!" Dwalin hissed as he passed the two brothers, looking back for the trail.

"Get your fat head off my shoulder, Barin, you slug!" Farin taunted as he pushed his brother off.

I crouched behind an enormous, oak tree on the left side of the last big of the path. Which was clearly dying.

I watched as they searched for it.

I turned in the other direction to see that the path continued, drastically veering off the left, a piece of the path was covered in small, thick bushes, which was most likely why they missed it.

It was merely a few feet from me.

I peeked my head back out to look at the group, still searching.

I was too close to the path, they would surely see me.

I ran back to an even bigger tree. The roots spiraled viciously out of the ground.

I had to get them back towards the path, or they'd never find it again! I picked up a stone at my feet and three it towards the way of the worn-in path.

"What was that?" Farin and Barin asked, stammering.

Thorin walked towards the noise, clutching his sword.

"What is it, my liege?" Dwalin questioned, coming closer to Thorin.

He looked around.

The group became close to me, far to close for comfort.

Thorin searched left and right.

I picked up a small stick and discreetly threw it directly towards the path.

Everyone's glares shot to the path.

"Over here!" Dwalin interrupted.

"The path!" Farin celebrated.

"Go, all of you!" Thorin stated, gesturing for them to go back onto the path.

They returned to it as Thorin looked back at the surrounding area.

He searched it for a second before continuing again.

~

Nightfall hit with a fierce drive. It became fairly dark.

The company had passed the deep forests of Mirkwood, with some difficulty and travelling off the already grown-in path, and neared the misty mountains. The clouds rested in the dark night sky. The only light was that from the moon. .

They settled in a cave-like shaped groove at the base of the mountain. I spent the night near an old oak tree. The pale, light blue rays from the moon flattered Thorin's already deep-blue eyes as he gazed upon the sky. He sat on the ground with his hands clutching atop his waist.

Needless to say Thorin didn't sleep despite Dwalin's constant offers to stand watch. He was like that, he never depended on others, it was almost as if he had been let down perhaps.

I didn't sleep. I couldn't risk it. And being where I was, I wasn't tempted to anyways. The bark was rough against my head. My long hair continued to pick up it's shedding pieces as it tangled.

Thorin waited until the others had fallen into sleep. Dwalin had merely shut his eyes, but I don't believe he'd been asleep. Farin and Barin slept, of course.

Thorin stood up, and began to walk, pacing almost. Slowly he walked, back and forth. Back and forth. It worried me. He had always been a complex character, you'd never know what was on his mind.

I sat at the tree, looking off into the dark sky, or what I could see, the tree I sat under covered a great portion of it.

Sitting there for such a long while had me thinking about everything, every possible thing that could happen.

If Thorin found out I was here.

If I died in battle, and not returned to Erebor, his final thought of me, it could be "She broke the trust I had placed in her" or something worse, or better.

I could die, there's no doubt, I would never get to tell him.. Wait, tell him what? Tell him... Tell him nothing. There was nothing to tell because there was nothing.

Nothing.

Or Thorin could even perish. I couldn't bear to think of that, it sent my nerves on a spiral.

Or what if he found out that I wasn't a full Dwarf? I was perhaps one eighth a.. a.. In all honesty I don't know what I am, Man? Elf?

But what would happen if he found out?

I got myself all worked up through the night. I held Arvendel on my lap as I sat against the tree. I was never one to ever have a bow. I preferred the company of swords.

Although I did have experience with a bow.

Arvendel had a spiral engraved on both sides running down the blade. I held the sword up to my face, looking into it.

Apparently I'd hit something earlier, because my nose bled, it ran down to my mouth and coated my skin as I wiped it with the back of my hand.

I looked behind to see Thorin walking around. His overcoat blew slightly in the wind.

He paced more, and more. Clutching his belt, he walked.

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