Take My Pain Away

Chapter 7

That night Abrâ sat off on her own while the company ate. As hard as she tried, her gaze would not stop wandering to Thorin. Throughout her whole life, she had never felt so strongly the horror of the curse laid upon her people. Right at this moment, she wanted to stride over to the king,haul him to his feet and kiss him soundly.

Unbeknownst to her, tears were streaming down her cheeks. Bilbo strolled past her only to step back in surprise. He crouched in front of her and reached toward her. Abrâ stood and ran, shouting, "No! Don't touch me! Never touch me!"

She ran to the stable, and straight to pony's stall. She sobbed into his neck and clenched and unclenched her fingers into his mane. She heard a sound behind her and mumbled, "Go away Bilbo. Please leave me...I'm sorry, but I need to be alone."

Thorin had seen Abrâ's reaction to Bilbo and had immediately followed after her, "I'm not Bilbo." His deep rumble was soothing to her ears, but still she shied back. "Abrâ, im-," he was about to say Imrilamê but did not want to spook her further. "Abrâ, no one here is going to hurt you."

"Go away! You do not want me here," she hiccoughed. "You want me to go home...I tell you I can help, but you won't let me."

Thorin took a step toward her and she stepped back to pony's withers. "Stop! You can't touch me Thorin," she wailed. She took a deep breath, "Not unless you wish to cause me great harm."

Thorin wrinkled his brow in confusion before it softened, "Abrâ, I never wish to cause you any harm."

She looked up at him, wetness remaining on her cheeks. She drew herself to full height and raised her chin. She swallowed before saying, "I have something I need to confess, Thorin."

The dwarf stiffened, was she a spy? Was she plotting something? Who was she?

"Please, Thorin, can we meet with the others?"

"You can tell me. I will inform them if they need to know," he said with a hard edge to his voice.

"It will have no effect on the quest, Thorin. I just need to share this information." Shes hrugged.

Thorin considered her for a few moments before shrugging himself and turning away. "Come, tell us."

As they walked side-by-side toward the others Thorin felt a deep longing to take her hand. He saw her as small and dainty, despite her larger than normal female stature; he wanted to protect her from any and all harm.

All eyes were upon them as they entered into the circle of firelight. Most were simply curious, however Balin saw something more in his king. He smiled to himself.

Thorin addressed the company, "Abrâ seems to think that she has something to confess to us." The dwarves started whispering amongst themselves. Thorin shouted, "Alright, settle down!" He motioned Abrâ into his position as he encouraged her, "Just tell us what you need to say."

Abrâ stood looking at 14 sets of eyes all trained upon her face. She took a deep breath and started, "I am cursed." An audible gasp could be heard throughout the company. "All of my people are cursed. Our names have been handed down throughout the ages, one to another, and each has a meaning. My father cannot leave our mountains, if he does he will kill whomever he looks at."

The dwarves sat enthralled by her words. They were all dumbstruck to some extent.

Abrâ looked up as Elrond and Gandalf stepped onto the terrace. Gandalf nodded for her to continue, "My name is Umbakhul du IgrÌd eAbrâsh."

The dwarves, once again, whispered amongst themselves; Bilbo asked, "And what does that mean?"

Thorin scowled, his face darkening. Khuzdul was an ancient, secret language not often shared with outsiders. Abrâ glanced at Thorin and arched a brow. He rolled his eyes and nodded.

She smiled at Bilbo and explained, "It means Destroyer of Pain and Fear."

"That doesn't sound like a curse," he reasoned.

"It is not a curse to those I touch. I carry the curse. If I touch anyone who is not of my people, an elf or an Istar I take on all of their physical pain or mental fears."

Bombur sat up, "That is why you will not take a bowl from me!" He smiled and perked up, "I was afraid I had offended you."

Abrâ chuckled, "No Master Bombur, are you even capable of offending anyone?"

Bofur nudged Bombur in the ribs and laughed, "Ask his wife!"

Fili commented, "Well,we will just have to be careful and not touch you, Abrâ." Kili nodded vigorously next to him.

Abrâ smiled sadly, "I appreciate it Fili," she glanced at Thorin, "but, if you recall, this is where I turn off for home." She watched regret flit across Thorin's face.

"Excuse me, Abrâ," Gandalf called from behind the dwarves. They all turned and watched him stand beside Abrâ. "In actuality, Lord Elrond has found some information that we think means you should travel to Erebor with the company." He went on to explain Elrond's findings.

At first Thorin scowled, he had originally wanted her to go home because he thought she'd be a nuisance, but now he just wanted to keep her safe. As Gandalf continued, he shook his head, a feeling something akin to despair filling him.

***

The dwarves and Bilbo snuck away from Rivendell, leaving the ponies behind in safety. They sought shelter from the rain in a cave, only to find themselves in Goblintown. As Bilbo and the dwarves fought and ran from the goblins, Abrâ found herself in a battle of wits with a strange creature. She riddled her way out of being eaten by Gollum, found a ring and followed the dwarves as they ran out the east side of the Misty Mountains.

The company finds themselves trapped between the mountain and the cliff only to fight Azog's forces and be carried off by the Eagles.

***

Abrâ gazed up at the big man. Beorn regarded her with scorn, he was not happy about having 14 dwarves in his home.

"Pardon me, Master Beorn, but might I be permitted to touch you?"

Thorin, who had been leaning against a post, straightened and appealed to her, "Abrâ, do you think that is wise?"

She smiled at Thorin affectionately and shrugged, "I want to find out who I can and cannot touch."

Beorn raised his bushy brows at her, "You are not of Erebor?"

"No, I come from Ered Lithui."

"You are of the cursed," Beorn stated. He shook his head, "Do not touch me."

"You know of us?"

"Yes, many ages ago...Azog had one of your people in his menagerie. He thought it was amusing to make the dwarf touch people - it made the poor man vomit."

Ori shyly asked, "Does everyone know what their curse is?"

Dori smacked his brother and grumbled, "Don't bother the lass."

"Oh, it is no problem Master Dori." She turned to Ori, "There are some who do not. Our people do not interact with many others of Middle Earth, so there are some who have not strayed from Ered Lithui for many generations."

"So, why do you not stay?" Dori shot his brother another dirty look.

Abrâ blushed and admitted, "I simply can't keep still. I am very curious and insisted on venturing forth. Luckily, or unlucky, as some may say, my mother's family has always been adventurous so I have always known what my curse is."

Abrâ could feel Thorin's eyes boring into the back of her. He regarded her fondly; meanwhile Kili nudged his brother in the ribs and pointed to Thorin.

"Uncle has got it bad!" he whispered.

Fili replied, "It is too bad. She would be good for him!"

Kili punched his brother in the arm and griped, "You had to remind me, didn't you? You couldn't just let me live in a happy moment, could you?"

Fili shrugged, "I'm just being realistic."

Kili slunk away, pouting,"Realistic! I'm looking at romance and all he can do is talk realism..."