A Ruby's Shine (Thorin Oakenshield X OC)

22. A Trap

I grumbled in annoyance, shaking my head free of the sleepiness that rose. I have been lightly dosing, nothing that could be counted as actual sleep, but still enough to offer more energy for the next day of walking. Drowsily, I looked around the cave and sighed in annoyance, bored out of my mind as I waited for daylight. Usually, out in the open, I have something to occupy my time when I can't sleep. Be it watching the stars and the moon or listening to the creatures in the surrounding area, maybe watching the flames of the fire.

I get none of that in this damn cave. The dwarves all seemed more comfortable here in the cave than on the road, I guess it comes from their lifestyle but I don't know how they handle living inside a mountain their whole lives. The only glow lighting the cave is the small amount of light coming in through the entrance and the pattering of rain. Only now that too is gone, as the rain was slowing. I wish I could just wake everyone up and we start walking again through the light rain and the dark, because this place does not feel safe. I leaned my head back against the cave, staring at the roof as I kept my eyes focused there to stay awake.

I am not falling asleep only to whimper in my sleep or something. In the wilderness I at least had other sounds and more space from the others to cover the fact that I have a problem with sleeping. In this damn cave I have none of that, the only covering sound is the snores of the dwarves and that would cover me whimpering like a little girl in my sleep, which is why I'm not sleeping because I hate that weakness of mine.

I started listening to the snores to avoid boredom, playing a guessing game of which snore belongs to who. It least it's keeping me from falling asleep. Well, that extremely loud obnoxious snore is coming from Bombur, if I remember correctly from the first night on the Great East Road. The more gurgling snore that really doesn't sound healthy is coming from Bifur.

I listened closer, frowning a touch as I tried to identify the hilarious whistling snore, looking over a smirking in amusement as I realized that snore is coming from Dwalin of all people.

I continued to entertain myself by guessing who's snores are who's until I ran out of snores to guess. There are only four people currently not snoring in this cave, and that is Bilbo, who is clearly awake, Thorin, who I don't know if he is awake, or if he even snores, and Bofur and I, as Bofur is now on watch.

I looked to the cave entrance and grumbled quietly, deciding it's better to get up and maybe make small talk with Bofur then spend the rest of the hours till dawn trying not to sleep. I pushed off the cave wall, looking up and spotting the white of Fairfin's feathers before making my way carefully over sleeping dwarves. I took a seat on the rock across from Bofur, nodding to him.

He looked up from watching the cave entrance in shock, frowning as he studied me. I probably looked tired, but if he asks questions I ain't answering them. And if he tries to tell me to try sleeping, I will definitely threaten him so he gets the point.

Luckily, he didn't ask about why I look half awake and am sitting here, which I am grateful for. I had not missed Bofur, Bombur, and Bifur not giving me worried looks or being overly protective just because I am a woman. I don't know if they have met warrior women before or just don't care, either way, it's why I like being around them more than dwarves like Balin or Dori. Also Bifur tended to just sit nearby, quiet and not say anything, a strange comfort for a dwarf I do not understand.

I pulled a knife from my inner sleeve of my long shirt, studying the knife in the glow of the moon into the cave as I looked outside at the falling rain, lost in thoughts spun the knife around and around my fingers with ease of years of experience, knowing exactly where the blade is so as to not cut myself so much so it's become muscle memory, and a comfort to me as I can always count on my knives and my reflexes.