The Red Apothecary (A Hobbit Story)

Chapter 3: Down the Road

The smell of freshly cut berries and spices aroused Thorin from his deep rest. He blinked slowly and groggily as he remembered were he was. It astounded him that of all the people he could've found in this forest it was her, his fire emerald. The nickname came back to him as he watched her chop up berries and mash others while pairing the juice with water to make a flavored drink. "How long have you been toiling?" The onyx and silver streak haired prince asked in a tired manner, sitting up, then bending over to pick up his heavy boots next to the bed frame. The woman smiled as she always did, while keeping her hands to the tasks. "Not long, maybe an hour. How was your sleep?" She pried, pouring the dark violet hue juice into a pitcher, stirring it up turning the water into a more light lavender color. "Best I've had in months. And how did you fair?" "I can't complain, I was warm and dry." She poured the water into two medium sized jugs and set them to the table where two plates sat. A few slices of honey cake that Madelynn baked a morning ago sat on the plate with berries from both the forest and her own garden just outside the cottage. "Breakfast is ready you're majesty." She bowed playfully while she lifted one hand to her side pointing to the table, like she ran an inn. Thorin let out a little snicker at her antics. He moved to the table, and they sat and ate.

After breakfast Thorin hastened to get his belongings together for the last leg of his trip. He turned to Madelynn. His sky blue hood draped over his brow. "I cannot thank you for what you've done for me, fire emerald." He winked, hoping she remembered the pet name he called her all those years ago. She blushed at the memory. "There is no need for thanks. Especially as old a friend as you are." She mentioned slinging her large bag over her shoulder. He raised his eyebrow at her action. "What are you doing?" "I heard you mention you were on you're way to the shire. I have business there I have to attend to as well."  He watched as she put on her cloak and lock the door behind them "So be it." He said the tiniest bit dazed, but he welcomed the company on the lonely road ahead.

They set off on the trade route. The dirt road was silent, given the sound of the wind and wild life here and there. Madelynn breathed deeply as the ending summer breeze hit her face in such delight. Thorin watched as she did this a few times. "How do you find such joy in the sultry summer breeze?" He muttered. Her eyes met his. "I'm always thankful for the breeze. It lets me know the end hasn't come for me yet." She paced ahead ever the slightest. Thorin had never heard her say such things like that. It was hopeful, but yet with the tiniest bit of sorrowfulness in her voice. "Perhaps some wounds of hers haven't healed."  His thoughts wondered a bit till the sun began to sink below the west horizon. The two set up camp on the outside rim of Lothlórien. Their fire blazing, and their places of sleep established, they settled into a restful night. Or so they thought.

Madelynn stretched as she stood up from her pallet, beginning to walk off in no particular direction. "Where do you think you're off too?" Thorin bellowed, smoke encircling his face from his pipe. Madelynn turned to meet his gaze, her pale complexion turning a light rose color. "I need to relieve myself." She stood embarrassed, Thorin felt a little foolish for asking her, but it was his job when he was on watch. Even when it was just the two of them. Thorins body twisted away from her direction. "I'm sorry for asking. Please make it swift." She bowed and was out of the fire lights touch.

Thorins thoughts drifted as he watched the fire. He nibbled on the end of his pipe mindlessly, while fiddling with the lit end as well. He thought only of Madelynn. She constantly plagued his mind as a child, a young adult, and now into his middle age. What was so special about her that she would do this to him. Was it her hair? Was it the way she could make him smile at the simplest things? Was it her passion for her work? Or was it all of them combined? Or perhaps it was just as simple as him loving her personality and natural appearance. He watched the fire dance against the wind, much like her hair did in the forest with the breeze brushing through it. "What spell has this woman held over me for all these years." He smiled just simply thinking of her. "I must never lose her again." He shook his head at the thought. She might not feel the same way as they were children. She had seemed to move on, distracting herself with medicine and such. These thoughts kept him heavily occupied, until the sound of a blood curdling scream made him jump out of his skin. Dropping his pipe and hastening to his blade he barreled to the sound of her voice in the deep of the wood, hoping he could get there just in time. He flew past trees, quickening over stones and roots until he found her. She was held up against the side of a large tree trunk with a jagged blade against her white porcelain neck The sight before him made his blood run hot. No one would do this to his fire emerald.

Not even the darkest creatures of Arda. Especially not Orcs.