A series of one shots (the hobbit) [on hold]

A series of one shots (the hobbit)

Kila and the Company:


I grew up reading stories and tales of The Lonely Mountain, I learnt about it all through my childhood, as a young dwarf, an adult but still a young one, I was told the story of how Thorin Oakenshield and 13 others had taken back the mountain from Smaug. Then one day the company of Thorin Oakenshield set out once more. Nobody knew what their new journey was for and I desperately wanted to go with them, be there when the quest came to an end but mother said that it was too dangerous for a girl to go with them, even if she was a dwarf and could fight just as well as everyone else. So I stayed and waited for news to come, I feared for the lives of the company, after all I knew most of them, they were family to me.

I grew up with Kili, together we listened to the stories that Thorin told all the children. Once we became of age, we began to train together, we became equals on the field, neither of us being able to get the upper hand over the other, it was a contest that lasted many years. Kili would never admit that a girl was as good as him and I just wanted to prove myself.

I knew that Kili had an older brother, Fili. They were close, they did a lot together, we all trained together a few times, Kili had always favoured a bow and arrow over swords but he was still just as good as any other dwarf with one, Fili was the swordsman of the family, beating any opponent he faced, I came close to matching his skills once but he was always just a little bit quicker and more strategic, there was a time when I looked up to him because of his skill, I wanted to be like that, be one of the best swordsman of all the dwarves.

The rest of the company was known by almost everyone in the community. Bofur was like a father to me, being there after my own father was slain in battle. I hadn't known him well, I was quite little when Thorin brought mother and I the news and she had cried for many days.

That was when I decided to be a warrior, all the other kids laughed at me and said I couldn't do it, all of them but Fili. I trained and trained, dreaming of the day that I would go on a quest and kill orcs and other foul creatures but that day had not yet come. Thorin knew how skilled I was but whenever an opportunity rose for me to earn my place in the community, he would not let me go, I never understood why and I still don't but I accepted his decision, hoping one day I would be needed.

Nobody had heard from Thorin or the company since they left and some of the dwarves began to lose hope and spread the disease of doubt. Everybody knew something was wrong but I was the only one prepared to find out what had happened.

I set out, following their trail on horseback, they were 6 months ahead of me but I would be damned if I was letting that stop me, nobody knew what they had gone for but Kili told me where they were going. They were heading for Bree, the path they would take ran through Mirkwood, across the misty mountains and past Rivendell, finally ending up at their destination, Kili had said that this was only one part of their course and that they would be there for a month, no more no less. That was all he could tell me for he knew nothing else. I had hardly any food or water for the trip but I had what I needed; warm clothes, my weapons, a map and my head. I could do this. It would take approximately 10 months to reach Bree taking everything into account and they had been gone for 6, I had 4 months to reach stop number one or else I would lose them.

I ran into trouble with the elves in Mirkwood and wasted a week convincing the king that I was simply a traveler, going to the shire to see my kin, I told him that my uncle had been travelling middle earth when he had become ill and had to stop there and receive treatment. He let me go.

I had to turn my pony loose and travel over the mountains on foot, time was running out and I needed another pony to reach Bree on time. I stopped again at Rivendell seeking help from Lord Elrond who sent me on my way with a new pony and more supplies to get me to Bree, he knew why I travelled this road and did not hesitate to assist me.

I reached Bree in just over 4 months, I searched every inn, looking for the company, asking inn keepers if they had seen them, no one had, not a soul seemed to remember seeing a group of dwarves come through those parts. I had almost lost hope when I came across the Prancing Pony Inn, there was a ruckus coming from inside which soon ceased, the only place in Bree left for them to be, I entered and was greeted with the loud banter of men and other folk all cheerfully conversing over pints of ale and a warm meal. I immediately made my way to the inn keeper and asked him the same thing I had asked all the others, I expected the same answer and I got it, "sorry love, 'avent seen no dwarves in these parts for a while".

That's when I heard it, the sounds of a struggle coming from upstairs before hearing Thorin's voice yell out in anger. I looked at the inn keeper, raising my eyebrows, he promptly lowered his eyes before rushing to serve someone else. I took off up the stairs readying my throwing knives and sword, I came to an empty hall and crept along listening intently, they must have heard me coming up and tried to keep the others quiet, then out of the almost silent corridor came the shuffle of feet and a muffled cry of pain, I burst through the door and glanced at the company being held in the arms of men, blindfolded and gagged to stop any possible sound escaping so they could not alert anyone to their capture.

"You've really done it this time boys." Their heads tilted at the sound of my voice and then they began to wriggle and writhe around, one by one, starting with Kili. I commenced my assault on my friends captors, cutting them down until only one remained. I sheathed my swords and spoke. It was the only real sound in the room and it echoed in the empty space.
"Boo."
I flicked my fingers toward the man and he fled, running for dear life and I couldn't help but drop to the floor and struggle to breathe between fits of laughter. The others groaned and moaned trying to mumble words through their gags. I calmed myself before getting up and undoing the bounds that held their wrists.

Thorin was the first to have his hands freed and he ripped off the gag and blindfold at the same time. He glared at me and shook his head but I knew he was glad I was there. I untied the rest of my friends and they all hugged me and laughed, thanking me for saving them, everyone except for Fili and Kili who seemed upset that they had been shown up by a girl.

"Kila, what are you doing here?"
Thorin's tone was harsh and it made me feel smaller than I was.

"No one had heard from any of you for six months, nobody knew if you were still alive or not, you didn't even tell anyone where you were going."
I tried to make my response cold but my voice broke half way through.

"How did you know where to find us?" His voice still held it's usual gruff and grumpy tone but something in his eyes had changed. My quick side glance to Kili was all he needed to see.

"Come on then, let's get out of this place." And with that, we left. All 13 of us.

Later on in the evening, when Kili and I were travelling at the back of the company, he slowed his horse to match pace with mine.

"How did you manage to get from Erebor to Bree in 4 months?" He was curious about how I had managed the impossible and slightly jealous that I had indeed done it.

"Sorry, I can't tell you that, trade secret." He groaned at my response before moving up and retaking his earlier spot between Fili and I.

After travelling a few more leagues, Thorin stopped and told us to set up camp. Watches were taken in pairs, one pair each night. Seeing as there was an odd number of us that would stand watch, he decided that Fili would do one watch with his brother and one with me, I didn't expect that to be his choice but I was happy to be doing something and pulling my own weight.

After my first few watches with Fili, we began talking more and more and he would tell me stories of their quest to reclaim Erobor. Eventually he swapped places with Kili as we rode through the day and on the nights where none of us were on watch we would have little competitions of who was the better warrior; Fili, Kili or I. Thorin began watching us closer, I couldn't understand why and I didn't really want to know but I felt his gaze. Fili and I became closer during the seemingly never ending nights we had watch on and he always had a new story to tell, a new way to try and frighten me but none of it worked.

Our path had turned south a few weeks ago and if I wasn't mistaken, that meant we were heading for Gondor. I didn't know why we had taken this course, I don't think anyone apart from Thorin and maybe Dwarlin and Barlin knew.

One night on watch, I heard the cries of orcs. I jumped to my feet and took up Kili's bow, I hung the sheath of arrows over my back and held one against the bow. I was ready for any attack that could come, I had the bow and my knives and swords. I was utterly concentrated, searching the surrounding woodlands for movement and listening for any sound. I had almost forgotten that Fili was there until he walked up behind me and lowered the bow in my hands before moving in front of me and putting the arrow back with the others. He kept his eyes on mine the whole time, trying to calm me without waking the others, he put his hand on mine, willing me to let go of his brothers bow whilst sliding the sheath over my head and lying it back down next to him.

We stood there for what felt like hours but I know it was only minutes, he never took his eyes off mine and his hands never left my upper arms. The look in his eyes reassured me that everything was okay and that we were safe. I eventually dropped my gaze and broke out of his hold, walking away from the rest of the dwarves and sinking down to my knees. Fili followed me and sat down beside me, he reached out to me but I leaned away.

"It's okay Kila, we all react like that the first time we hear orcs, it's completely normal, don't worry about it."

His hushed voice sent chills down my spine and I subconsciously moved closer to him, I began to sway and I think he could tell that I was about to fall and possibly even faint because he reached out quicker than before and pulled me into him before I could protest. His warmth was comforting on the cold night and his strength made me feel safe. He held me for a long time after that and I quietly wept into his shoulder. As the sky got lighter with the fast approaching dawn, we both agreed to keep the nights events a secret.

The others woke up as the sun came into view and we started off again not long after that. We travelled all day, only stopping to get more water when we came across a stream. The sun began to set and fear set in amongst the group, we were in a part of Dunland where orc and goblin attacks were common and nobody really wanted to be there. I found it hard to sleep that night and once I did, it was only a light sleep and one full of nightmares.

I woke with a start to the word 'orcs' being whispered into my ear, Bifur and Bofur had watch and they had heard orcs coming close to the camp, whether they knew we were here or not was unknown, the fire had long been out and there was no sign that we were there, after everyone had been woken, Thorin instructed us to gather up our things as quietly as possible and put them somewhere before taking up our weapons and hiding. Kili and I were sent to climb trees and try to see how many orcs there were. As I started to climb my belt got caught on a branch and loosened substantially without me noticing. When we were high enough to see, Kili and I looked around only seeing one singular group of orcs, no more than 20.

I agreed to stay there while Kili climbed back down and told Thorin. Fili was crouched behind the tree we had climbed as it was the only suitable spot left to hide, my belt fell to the ground with a loud crash, nobody moved, nobody even breathed, we all just hoped that the orcs would pass it off as nothing. I kept watching the pack, I saw them turn around and shuffle towards where Fili was hiding. My breathing got heavier as I silently descended the tree, I was close to the bottom when the orcs arrived and saw Fili standing against the tree. They screeched as Thorin and the others came out and attacked, protecting Fili no matter what. I jumped off the branch and landed on the ground with a thud.

We were having a hard time killing these orcs and I heard some of the company yelling that they were stronger than most. I turned and faced Fili just as an orc came up behind him and forced it's sword straight into his stomach. Time seemed to slow down as I watched him look at me in horror before turning to see Kili, I screamed out and the whole company stopped for just a moment before they fought their way towards Fili. His brother had the most anger and determination I had ever seen.

An orc came at me and suddenly everything was thrown into fast forward. I killed as many orcs as I possibly could and eventually got to Fili just in time to catch him as he fell to the ground, I laid him down gently before applying pressure to his wounds, by this time I had a slow stream of tears flowing down my face and I was begging him not to die. Kili got there soon after and stood there in shock, staring at his big brother laying there on the ground dying. Thorin and the rest of the group finished off the orcs before coming over to us.

Thorin shoved me out of the way getting Kili to take over. I stood up and took a few steps back from the group watching as Thorin got up and turned to me ever so slowly, a look of sheer hate on his face.

"This is your fault you stupid little girl, this is exactly why I never let you do anything like this, you never should have come after us."

Thorin blamed me, I could understand why, it was my fault but it still hurt, the things he said cut deep and I will never forget those words. After that night he changed the watch pairings and put me with Bofur, he never spoke to me and he had Fili and Kili ride at the front with him. Fili healed within a couple of weeks and once we passed over the border of Gondor, Thorin began to stop more often and let the company rest and Fili regain his strength better.

Anything that needed to be done, Thorin assigned to me, the less he saw of me the happier he was, he was still terribly mad and I recalled what he had said on the night Fili got injured on a daily basis. He said that he couldn't stand the sight of me anymore and that he couldn't even send me home because I would get myself killed, he was stuck in a constant argument with himself over a dilemma that had no solution he was happy with.

One evening I was off collecting firewood when I heard someone coming up behind me, I figured it would be Bofur offering to help so I ignored them, but then they wrapped their arms around me and I dropped the bunch of sticks before turning around. Fili was standing in front of me with a stupid smirk on his face. I threw my arms around him and he hugged me back even tighter, I never wanted to let him go. I missed talking to him during watch and listening to him tell me stories.

"How did you manage to sneak away? Isn't Thorin keeping you in his sights at all times?" I was beyond surprised that he was here, I couldn't believe it

"Told him I had to go to the toilet, he let me go pretty quick. Look he's overreacting about this and I am so sorry about what he's putting you through."

"I have missed you so much." I stumbled on my words and began sobbing into him, something that was becoming a habit when I was with this dwarf prince.

"I missed you too"

He held me tighter as he said those words, my knees buckled and we slowly sank to the ground, loosening our grip on each other ever so slightly, he pulled me onto his lap and I fell into him, inhaling his scent, unsure when I would get the pleasure of smelling it again. He put his hand under my chin and gently tilted my head up towards his before kissing me softly. We stayed there for a while, just sitting there, Fili planting light kisses up my neck and across my jaw until coming back to my mouth, occasionally stroking my hair and kissing my forehead, making me feel even more loved. Minutes turned into hours and we eventually forgot about everything, we forgot about the firewood laying a few feet away and the fact that Fili had watch tonight and we forgot all about Thorin.

Fili played with my hair while I played with the collar of his shirt and then for a while we just sat there, content, with my head resting against the crook of his neck and his arms wrapped around me, keeping me warm. I kissed along his collar bone, smiling as I felt him take a sharp breath due to my actions. We then decided to sneak back to the others and see if anyone was still awake, when we got back though we saw something that we didn't expect, Thorin had asked Bofur to replace Fili on watch with Kili and he had also made someone else go and get firewood. We quietly got our covers from our packs and crept back behind some trees, we decided to spend the night together and that even if it was just for tonight, everything was perfect. We found a comfortable spot on the forest floor and laid down, covering ourselves with the blankets and falling asleep in each others arms.