The White Rider (Thorin Oakenshield)

Chapter Four: Orc Chase

"The White Rider is a woman?!" Dwalin exclaimed, staring wide-eyed at the honey-blonde woman groaning in pain on the ground, clutching her ribs.

Thorin looked up from freeing his nephews, and stood, leaving Fili to help Kili. "What?"

Gandalf rolled his eyes, and walked over to Adelaide's side. "Well don't just stand there you fools, help her!"

Bofur was the first to snap out of it, and gently rolled her over onto her back. "She's got a broken rib," he said, after gently prodding her side.

Gandalf sighed. "We can't do anything here."

Thorin narrowed his eyes at the wizard. "So she's just going to writhe in pain the rest of our journey?" Thorin was starting to develop protective feelings for a girl he hasn't even heard speak! Hell, he didn't even know she was a girl up until a few seconds ago!

Gandalf looked a bit surprised at the Dwarf King's outburst.

"I'll be fine!" Adelaide gasped, brushing her hair from her eyes. "Could someone help me up?"

Bofur and Bifur gently helped her to her feet. Adelaide grit her teeth and grunted softly in pain.

Thorin had to admit, the girl is beautiful. Long, golden hair that reached the bottom of her back, bright blue eyes that seemed to glitter like diamonds.

Kili and Fili entered the clearing carrying everyone's packs and weapons. Kili helped Adelaide strap in her quiver and slung her bow across her back.

She turned to Gandalf. "Those were mountain trolls. They can't have come down this far without some sort of cave or hideout nearby."

Gandalf nodded. "Aye. There should be a cave nearby."

Ten minutes of searching later, The company was walking through a cave that reeked of rotting meat and something else Adelaide couldn't - and wouldn't - name.

"Ugh, it reeks!" Oin said, waving his hand in front of his nose.

"It's a Troll Hoard, Oin. I would be careful what you touch," Gandalf warned.

Adelaide shook her head amusedly as some of the dwarves made a "long-term deposit."

Adelaide looked at some of the throwing knives, fingering the handles.

Kili came up beside her. "So, what's your real name?" He asked, grinning down at her.

"Rosewood. Adelaide Rosewood."

"A. R.," Balin breathed, looking at the girl.

Adelaide nodded, smiling softly.

"Something's coming!" Thorin called, drawing the Orcrist, a blade he had gotten from the hoard.

A sled burst through the trees, being drawn by...bunnies? Adelaide only knows one person who rides a sled pulled by bunnies.

"Radagast? Radagast the Brown?" Gandalf questioned, lowering his sword, momentarily relieved.

Adelaide relaxed, seeing as it was just the friendly wizard from the forest. He and Gandalf went off to talk.

The dwarves sat around, chatting amongst themselves, and Thorin found himself occasionally glancing at Adelaide. He couldn't help himself. He was just...drawn to her. Could she..? No. Nope. No way. There's absolutely no way she could be his Other Half.

It's an old folk tale among dwarves that very few souls are split during creation, and put in two bodies. The two beings spend their lifetime looking for their other half. When they meet, they should feel an instant connection. Some Other Halves never find each other, and spend the rest of their lives feeling incomplete.

Adelaide could feel Thorin's glances, and the back of her neck would heat up. She has to admit that she feels...drawn...to him. She feels like she wouldn't be able to be away from him.

A loud howl broke through her thoughts.

"Wargs! Everyone on your guard!" Thorin commanded, drawing the Orcrist.

The warg leapt out of the trees, and before Thorin could strike it, an ebony arrow was sticking out from between its eyes. Thorin looked up and saw Adelaide's ivory bow drawn, and her eyes narrowed.

"I hate wargs. And orcs," she growled.

Another one jumped out behind her and she swung her sword over her shoulder, slicing through its heart. All without glancing behind her.

"We need to get out of here!" Ori said, nervous.

"We can't! The ponies bolted!"

Radagast spoke up. "I'll lead them off!"

Gandalf frowned at his friend. "Those are Gundabad wargs! They will outrun you!"

Radagast smirked. "These are Rhosgebel rabbits. I'd like to see them try." With that, he was off.

"Let's go!" Thorin said. They ran, and Adelaide was clutching her rib with one hand, her ivory bow in the other.

Thorin glanced behind him at his company, and saw Adelaide dropping behind, her beautiful face contorted in pain. He ushered the others behind a rock and ran to her side, letting her lean on him as he lead her to the rock. His skin tingled where her skin touched his.

A warg with an Orc rider was on top of the rock. Thorin gestured for Kili to shoot it. The Orc let out a horrible scream, before Dwalin and Gloin could kill it.

"Run!" Thorin shouted. "Go!" He ran with Adelaide in the middle of the group as they ran, fighting off orcs and wargs as they went. Adelaide glanced over her shoulder, and saw an arrow heading straight for Thorin. She leaned heavily on him, making him stumble sideways. She yelped as the arrow pierced her side. Thorin was now completely carrying Adelaide. He was worried. Her face was pale, and she was breathing heavily. She occasionally yelped in pain when she was jolted in the wrong way.

"Where's Gandalf? He's abandoned us!" Dwalin yelled, slicing a warg and its rider.

"This way, you fools!" Gandalf said, before disappearing behind a rock.

Thorin handed Adelaide to Fili for him to carry down the hole. After the last dwarf slid down, Thorin followed, immediately going to Adelaide.

"She was hit with an arrow, Uncle," Fili said, setting her down gently, against the wall of the cave.

Thorin crouched down beside her. "Thorin..." she breathed, before falling unconscious.

A horn sounded, and a dead Orc fell into the cave. Thorin stood, and pulled the arrow from its head. "Elves," he growled.

"I can't see where the path leads," Dwalin yelled from farther back in the cave. "Do we follow it?"

"Yes!" Ori said, starting forward.

"That would be wise," Gandalf muttered, watching as Thorin gently lifted Adelaide into his arms. Bilbo followed, watching as Adelaide unconsciously nuzzled her face into Thorin's neck.

After following the path for a minute or two, Thorin came up next to Gandalf and Bilbo in time to hear Bilbo say,

"Rivendell."

•••

A/N:

Hey guys! sorry it's so short! I promise the next chapter will be longer!

Don't be afraid to point out mistakes!

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EDITED