Bring On The Wonder[Thorin Oakenshield]

Chapter Twelve: The Misty Mountains

It was the next morning. Bella was folding her spare clothing that the elves had been so generous to clean for her and she put them in her satchel. She looked around the room. The half-breed was going to indeed miss this beautiful home. She was forever in Lord Elrond's debt. If it wasn't for him, Lady Galadriel, and the two brothers for helping her recover she probably would still be lying in that bed right now. The woman glanced at the room one last time and slung her satchel over her back and closed the door behind her. Bella walked down the hall and not long, heard the quiet bickering amongst the dwarves. They were all ready to get out of this cursed land. Thorin was whispering something to Balin and Dwalin when he looked up to see their female companion had joined them. " Let's move." Thorin hissed.

The dwarves began to follow their leader down the hall. Peering from behind walls and pillars to make sure no elves where in sight to stop them. Fili and Kili were right beside the half-breed. Glad that she would be continuing on with them to the end, and they stayed by her side even after they started the climb up the step path just encase she needed assistance. Although Bella was glad to be walking on both legs again, she wasn't at her full strength yet, and found it difficult to keep up, but the brothers remained by her side to keep her company.

The first week was rough, especially for Bella. When Thorin had declared they had traveled far enough for the day the woman nearly found herself ready to collapse to the ground from how much pain she was still in. Balin, numerous times; along with Oin tried to reason with the leader that they should only travel for half the day, until their wounded companion was back to her full strength, but the dwarf was convinced they would not reach the mountain in time going her speed the entire way. Bella figured Thorin was testing her to see just how much he could put her through before she would give up and go back to Rivendell. But at the end of every exhausting day's travel, the prince was left flabbergasted that she had managed to keep up with them, especially when he could tell how much pain she was still in. Bella could fool the others and his two nephews with that fake smile she always had on, but Thorin knew it all too well, he was guilty of doing the same thing when he did not want anyone feeling pity for him. She had a strong will; he would give her that much.

Another week had passed and they were now deep within the mountains. The company set up came once again, as Bombur, Bella and Bofur prepared dinner. Bombur was telling the woman funny stories about when he and his brother were younger the things they would find to put in their soups to add flavor. Bella by the end was laughing at some of things they had tried and then all three of them were laughing. Thorin glanced up, along with Balin and Dwalin who had been discussing important matters, and looked to see the three of them giggling through the fire. The elder dwarf thought it was just wonderful to see the woman getting along so well with the others. Dwalin muttered something about ' that he liked her well enough' and Thorin. Thorin was still trying to figure out who this woman was. It surprised him that none of the others seemed too concern about who she really was? They all trusted her. The dwarf prince had ruled out that she was not a spy for the enemy that was sent to destroy him but that did not easy his other suspicions of her. She had to have a pretty good reason why she continued to keep it to herself who she was. He then turned to his nephews. They were siting on the far side of the fire beside each other chatting and snickering a way about something. He knew they had spent quite a bit of time with the young woman and he was curious to know whether or not she had told them anything about herself to them.

The dwarves were up earlier then usual the next morning. They packed up their satchels and made short work of erasing any signs that they had been their and continued on the long road a head of them. If Balin's calculations were correct they would reach the entrance of the Misty Mountains by nightfall. The day had started out with good intentions but by late afternoon the clouds were coming in and darkened the sky and a thunderous storm was upon them as they came to entrance of the Misty Mountains. The rain came down on the company hard drenching them and their supplies in a matter of seconds. The weather wasn't showing any sign of lightening up anytime soon and they could barely see two inches in front of their faces as the wind howled around them.