There and Back Again: A Girl's Tale

Chapter 17 The House of Beorn

Chapter 17 The House of Beorn

Once again, the company found themselves on the run from an orc pack. At least they had a decent head start. They stumbled through the trees, doing their best to be as quiet as an exhausted group of sixteen could manage, which wasn't very.

Elwen knew it didn't matter; the orcs were mounted on swift footed beasts with teeth and claws and a keen sense of smell. It was only a matter of time before they were overrun once more, and they did not have the strength to fight. She desperately hoped Gandalf had some other plan up his sleeve, though she doubted the Eagles would be back to save them.

The further they ran, the rockier and more mountainous their surroundings became. Elwen nearly fell when her foot twisted on a rock, but Fili had grabbed her arm tightly and kept her on her feet.

Gandalf called them to a halt and insisted Bilbo go scout the orc's location. Much to Elwen's surprise, the hobbit nodded and slipped away into the darkness without protest.

Elwen wasn't sure how far they'd gone or how long they'd been trying to evade Azog and his ilk. Several leagues, at least. The hints of orange and pink peeking over the eastern horizon were becoming brighter and their surroundings more pronounced.

Thorin moved to Elwen's side. He reached out for her hand, running a thumb over her knuckles.

"Don't be frightened," she said, smirking. "I'm here to protect you."

Thorin chuckled lightly and squeezed her fingers. "Then I am in good hands."

When Bilbo scrambled his way back to the company minutes later, everyone was ravenous for information.

"How close is the pack?" Thorin asked urgently.

"Too close," Bilbo said, defeated. "A couple of leagues, no more. But that is not the worst of it."

"Have the wargs picked up our scent?" asked Dwalin.

"Not yet, but they will do," Bilbo replied. "We have another problem."

"Did they see you?" Gandalf asked. "They saw you."

"No, that's not it."

Gandalf smiled and turned toward the dwarves.

"What did I tell you?" he said proudly. "Quiet as a mouse. Excellent burglary material."

As the group chortled and praised Bilbo's skill, Elwen could see the look of irritation building on the hobbit's face. Sometimes she wondered if dwarves' skulls were as thick as the rocks they lived inside.

"Shut your bloody traps!" Elwen snapped. The company fell silent. "He's trying to tell us something!"

"Yes, thank you!" Bilbo said, polite until the end. "I am trying to tell you there is something else out there!"

Elwen's eyes widened. Oh Jesus Murphy, what now?

"What form did it take?" Gandalf asked, all amusement sapped from his voice. "Like a bear?"

"Y—yes, yes," Bilbo eyed Gandalf suspiciously. "But bigger, much bigger."

"A bear?" Elwen swallowed hard.

Splendid.

Trolls, goblins, stone giants, wargs, now were-bears. Sure. Of course. Why not?

Becoming bear scat was not part of the plan. Nope. Not what she signed up for. A dragon? Sure, fine. That scaly son of a bitch would fry her before she even felt it. A bear would eat her. Alive. Probably starting at the feet, knowing her luck.