Bring On The Wonder[Thorin Oakenshield]

Chapter Twenty Five: Journey Through The Dark

It took the company over a week before they managed to find the bridge the wizard had mentioned they would need to cross over in order to stay on the correct path. How they were going to cross it was another story. Bella, Bilbo and Bofur approached the end of the bridge and stared down at the stream below. " Ooh. We could try and swim it." Bofur suggested.

"You're joking right?" Bella asked tiredly.

"Well, how do you suggest we get to the other side, lass?" Bofur retorted.

"Definitely not by swimming through that." The young woman growled. The dwarf waved her off not in the mood to argue with her. He would leave that up to their brooding leader. Bella glanced to her side to see the hobbit slowly starting to lean towards the stream and she had to yank him back away from the edge.

" We have to swim it. What choice do we have?" Bofur protested.

"Didn't you hear what the wizard told us? A dark magic lies upon this forest. The waters of this stream are enchanted. We must find another way to cross it." Thorin ordered, finding it difficult to keep his eyes open. They felt heavier then normal. Even with rest the night before, it felt like he hadn't slept in days.

"Doesn't look very enchanting to me." Bofur trailed off.

"These vines look strong enough." Kili spoke up, tugging on the nearest vine. The rest of them came up behind the young Dwarf prince to check it out and saw they could climb their way across. Kili was about to be the first one to go when Thorin stopped him.

"Kili! We send the lightest first." Thorin declared. All their heads looked in Bilbo's direction who was not looking at all pleased about this.

"Really? You're going to send the hobbit across?" Bella protested, grabbing hold of a nearby vine, gripping it tightly when she felt herself wobble from the dizziness she felt.

"He's the lightest Bella, now get away from there. You could fall." Thorin barked.

Shrugging her shoulders, the young woman climbed onto the first vine. Kili and Fili tried to grab her, but she was out of their reach.

"Bella be careful!" Fili warned. Thorin gritted his teeth in anger, this woman really knew how to push his buttons. The leader walked over to stand by his nephews, watching the half-breed struggle her way across.

"Bella are you doing alright?" Kili asked, watching with concerned eyes as she continued to make her way across.

"I'm super." She said back, her breathing heavy from the exhaustion she already felt. Bella suddenly slipped on a slimy spot of the vine, letting out a surprised shriek as she caught herself and the Dwarf king lunged onto the first vine and followed the same path as the woman took. Bella awkwardly jumped and managed to land on the stone platform, on her hands and knees. She crawled a few inches and sat down. The air suddenly seemed even more heavier, unbreathable almost. "Something's not right." she hissed to herself. " Something's not right at all. Stay where you are! Oh..."

Bella was to late to warn the others. They were all coming at once, behind their leader. The woman just sat there, lost in thought when Thorin landed near her. She got up and didn't fail to notice the glare forming on his face. "What?"

"Is it that hard for you to follow an order?" He growled lowly at her.

"I made it across didn't I?" She retorted.

Thorin came even closer to her, his face just inches from hers and he grabbed her arm in a way that wasn't firm. " Bella, when I give an order everyone is to follow it, that includes you as well."

"Or you'll do what? You don't command me."

Before the Dwarf king could scold her on her ignorance, both of them heard the sound of snapping twigs and their heads turned in the direction ahead of them. Out came a white stag. Thorin had let go of Bella's arm and drew his bow with an arrow at the ready.