The Journey Of Eleanor Baggins (Dwalin LS)

~ Chapter 11 ~

Later that night, the company had camped up on the edge of a cliff, Eleanor was happy to be on the ground to stretch her limbs. Bombur made rabbit stew for the company, with a full stomach the company began to rest. However, Eleanor just couldn't settle, something just didn't feel right, there was a foul smell in the air and she felt like she was been watched. She turns her attention to the other side of the forest, there was a gap between the cliff and the other side but still she didn't feel safe enough to sleep.

Gandalf watches the young shifter as did Balin, both wondering what had the cat so on edge. Gandalf lets out a sigh as Eleanor began to pace, he quickly looked around to see if the company where paying attention before calling out to the young girl "Eleanor, my dear" Her ears pricked and she pauses in her step. Gandalf knew that Balin had leaned closer to see what was about to happen. He also knew if anyone was going to be the first to find out the truth, that it would be Balin, the old dwarf was smart and knew about Eleanor's kin "What has you troubled my child?" He asks her softly.

Eleanor looks over at the over side once more before moving over to Gandalf, she rubs herself over the wizards leg, he moves his hands and gently strokes her head "There is a foul smell in the air" She says to the wizard "I do not feel safe right now" Her voice was soft as she whispers her concern to Gandalf. Balin could hardly hear the words exchanging between the pair but he knew that something had unsettled the poor cat.

Before Eleanor could say more to the wizard a screeching sound echos through the air, making the company jump. Eleanor stiffens and quickly searches out her brother, she let out a breath as she saw him over by Fili and Kili "What was that?" Bilbo asked, Eleanor could hear the worried tone in his voice.

"Orcs" Kili said looking at the hobbit.

"Orcs?" Bilbo said, he looks over to his sister knowing she had a bad experience with Orcs, it was the reason why she was living with him "El" He called out to his sister, Eleanor rushes over to her brother her heart sinking at the thought of them running into Orcs. The pair moved closer to the brothers as another screech filled the air. Thorin tense at the sound of Orcs, he began to look at there surroundings, he couldn't see anything but stayed on guard.

"Throat - cutters. There'll be a dozen of them out there. The lowlands are crawling with them" Fili said.

"They strike in the wee of night, when everyone is asleep. Quick and quite, no screams, just a lot of blood" Kili finished. Eleanor lets out a low hiss, she knew they were frightening her brother. The boys began laughing at the sight of Bilbo's pale face, making Eleanor hiss louder earning the attention of Gandalf and Balin. She wanted to claw the princes eyes out, they just didn't have a clue what Orcs are like. It was moments like this she wished the company knew that she was a shifter and could talk in animal form.

"You think that's funny? You think a night raid by Orcs is a joke" Thorin asked anger in his tone, he walked over to the boys and glare darkly at them.

"We didn't mean anything by it" Kili says disappointed with himself.

"No, you didn't. You know nothing of the world" Thorin muttered, he walked past the dwarves without eye contact or word and placed himself at the edge of the cliff. Balin stood up and walked to the fire.

"Don't mind him laddie, Thorin has more cause then most to hate Orcs" Balin says leaning against a rock "After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain, King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient dwarf kingdom Moria. But our enemy had got there first" Eleanor knew this was before her home was taken by the Pale Orc "Moria had been taken by legions of Orcs led by the most vile of their race"

"Azog the Defiler" Eleanor whispers under her breath. Bilbo having heard his sister, he places his hand on her back, hoping it would give her comfort.

"Azog the Defiler" The name sent shivers down Eleanor's spine "The giant Gundabad Orc had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin. He began by beheading the king. Thrain, Thorin's father, was driven mad by grief. He went missing, taken prisoner or killed, we did not know. We were leaderless. Defeat and death were upon us. That is when I saw him; a young dwarf prince facing down the Pale Orc. He stood alone against this terrible foe, his armor rent wielding nothing but an oaken branch as a shield" Eleanor looked to Thorin with respect. "Azog the Defiler, learned that day that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken. Our forces rallied and drove the Orcs back. Our enemy had been defeated. But there was no feast, no song, that night, for our dead were beyond the count of grief. We few had survived. And I thought to myself then, there is one I could follow. There is one I could call king." Balin finished.

The company turned to look at there leader, who was walking to the fire "But the Pale Orc? What happened to him?" Bilbo asked curiously, whiles stroking his sister head.

"He slunk back into the hole whence he came. That filth died of his wounds long ago" Thorin says. Gandalf and Balin shared a look. Oh how Eleanor wished that was true, even though she was only but a child at the time she knew that it was the pale Orc that lead the raid on her people as he did the same to the skin changers race.

After the story everyone went back to bed, Eleanor curled up on a small blanket that she had packed. She took another look around, feeling a little bit more safer then before. She notices Balin on watch, he was looking right at her with his brow raised. Eleanor knew he was curious about her but now wasn't the time for stories, letting out a yawn Eleanor closed her eyes and slowly drifted off with her brother by her side.

Half way through the night, just before watch change a whimper caught Balin's ear. He looks over the company to see them soundly sleeping, his eyes drifted to the hobbit and his cat. The cat looked stressed out, she was whimpering and crying out "Momma" He heard her whisper "Please don't go" Balin made a move towards the cat, when she suddenly shot up, the poor thing was panting, he could tell she was trying to catch her breath. He watches her in interest as she pulls herself up on all fours and walks over to his brother, she lays down beside him and curls back into herself. Balin is left shocked as Dwalin subconsciously pulls the cat into his arms, Eleanor sighs in content and snuggles into her mates arms and fell into a dreamless sleep unaware of the her mates brother eyeing the pair in confusion.

Balin could see there was a bond between the pair but he just didn't understand it after all Eleanor was a cat, an animal but he knew it was more then that. Balin let out a sigh he hoped that the time of secrets would be over soon.