More Than Gold - Thorin Oakenshield

A Little Closer

Tala was aware of the wind first, then the feel of a gentle breeze on her face. She was then aware of something soft on her fingers. As she slowly gripped the object, she recognized it to be feathers. Tala was then aware of shouting. She recognized those voices, and it was Bilbo's that brought her back. "Tala!"

Slowly, her eyes opened and she saw that she was resting on an eagle's back. She sat up carefully, gripping the feathers tightly to keep herself stable. Tala couldn't help but marvel at the sight before her. It was peaceful, beautiful, dream-like. She glanced to where she heard Bilbo's voice, giving him a reassuring look. "I'm alright!" She called to him.

"Thorin!" Fili shouted, looking at his uncle. Tala turned her head and saw Thorin being carried by an eagle. With her keen eyes, she saw that he was still unconscious. She feared the worst for a moment, but Tala knew that Thorin was much too stubborn to let something like this keep him down.

The Eagles approach a massive rock structure shaped like a bear; it was the Carrock, a mighty structure that had been there for many years. The Eagle carrying Thorin gently deposited him and his sword on a flat area on top of the Carrock. Another Eagle landed on the Carrock and
Gandalf slid off it's neck, running toward the unconscious Thorin.

"Thorin! Thorin." Thorin was not responding, which worried the wizard. Bilbo and Tala ran up as Gandalf placed his hand on Thorin's head and whispered a spell.

Thorin's eyes fluttered open and he gasped for air. He once he gained his breath, he spoke "the halfling?"

"It's all right. Bilbo is here. He's quiet safe." Gandalf replied, a half smile on his face. He was relieved that the dwarf was alright.

The other dwarves had all safely landed on the Carrock, and they quickly surround the wounded Thorin. Dwalin and Kili helped Thorin up, all of them hoping that their king would be alright. Once he was up, he shrugged them off and approached Bilbo.

"You! What were you doing? You nearly got yourself killed!" Tala frowned, about to say something, but Thorin silenced her with a look. "Did I not say that you would be a burden? That you would not survive in the wild and that you had no place amongst us?"

Thorin advanced until he was face to face with Bilbo, who looks worried and frightened. Tala didn't know what to do, she knew he'd never hurt Bilbo, but she couldn't help but worry. She didn't understand what Thorin was doing, as Bilbo had saved his life. Even so, she chose to stay out of this one for the time being.

"I've never been so wrong in all my life!" Thorin grabbed Bilbo and embraced him deeply. The other dwarves cheered loudly and slapped each other on the back. Gandalf smiled, and Tala laughed lightly in surprise. Bilbo, looking quite surprised, hugged Thorin back. "I am sorry I doubted you."

"No, I would have doubted me too. I'm not a hero or a warrior...not even a burglar." As everyone chuckled, the Eagles flew away, screeching.

Thorin pulled back and looked at Tala, his eyes sparkled with something Tala had never seen before. "And you," he said, walking over to her. "I have doubted you the most, perhaps. For that I am sorry."

"All is forgiven, Thorin." Tala smiled. "Perhaps I, too, was at fault. I realize now that I should not let my pride get the better of me. So I am sorry as well."

Thorin smiled at her, one she returned. They held eye contact, and for a moment they each felt a charge between them. Tala swallowed, and was first to look away. What that was, she didn't know. But it wasn't an unpleasant feeling, she mused. Thorin's eyes lingered on her before he, too, looked away.

A half smile made it's way onto her lips as she glanced up at the road ahead of them. As she did, Tala caught sight of something. "Is that what I think it is?" She asked, gaining the others' attention.

In the distance, on the horizon, they all saw the outline of a single, solitary mountain. "Erebor-The Lonely Mountain. The last of the great dwarf kingdoms of Middle­earth." Gandalf said. All of the dwarves felt a swell in their hearts. They were so close, it seemed that their journey was so close to an end.

Even Bilbo and Tala were moved as they gazed at the mountain. This was what Tala was helping them fight for. This was their home, a place that was stolen from them. A place she was going to help them reclaim.

"Our home." Thorin whispered. A bird cheeped and chirped as it flew by, the sound causing Tala to smile as it buzzed her briefly in greeting. The bird recognized her for what she was, and it gave her a brief flutter as he flew away and towards the mountain. All creatures of the forests knew fairies for what they were, much like they knew the elves.

"A raven! The birds are returning to the mountain." Oin said in excitement. He pointed at the creature as he smiled.

"That, my dear Oin, is a thrush." Gandalf corrected gently.

"But we'll take it as a sign, ­a good omen." Thorin said, glancing at Tala. She glanced back at him and saw him offer her a small smile. She returned it before looking back at the mountain. She didn't know what this odd feeling she was getting in her heart as she looked at Thorin, but she couldn't say she minded it much.

Perhaps this is what some of the other fairy's had spoke about. Attraction, maybe? Tala wouldn't deny the fact that Thorin was handsome, but such thoughts were out of place in a time like this. She was to keep focused on their task, not follow the whims and frivolity that seemed to be trying to gain her attention.

"Yes, I do believe the worst is behind us." Bilbo sighed. Despite the hope building within her, Tala couldn't help but feel that there was still a lot of danger ahead. It would be too easy if the worst was behind them. They still had such a long way to go, and Tala wasn't sure what was to happen.

She spared Thorin another glance, but saw him already looking at her. Surprisingly, she felt her heart skip a beat, and a small flush arise on her cheeks. She looked away quickly, a faint smile on her lips. Unknown to her, Thorin, too, smiled as he looked away again.

Thorin didn't know why he was having such a change of heart when he looked at his fairy companion, but he couldn't say he minded all that much. He liked that she stood up to him, she had a fire in her that drew him in. She was also stubborn, almost like a dwarf. While it annoyed him, Thorin actually quite liked it.

He patted the inside of his coat lightly, feeling the blue flowers still there. He smiled faintly again, glancing back at the Mountain one more time before he ordered them to being moving. Yes, maybe things will be better. At least, he hoped.