What if... (A Hobbit Fanfiction) (DISCONTINUED)

Distance

~A Few Days Later~

Brandy glanced back towards Rivendell, already wishing to be back in the warm water of the tub. They left Gandalf behind for Yavannaha's sake! 'And I didn't even get to say goodbye to Glory." The Hobbit huffed, her nose twitching slightly. She hadn't realised she stopped walking until Thorin called out to her.

"Master Baggins, I suggest you keep up." Brandy gave one last look at the waterfalls of Rivendell, and then got back into the line of Dwarves. The Hobbit sneered at the Dwarf King. After their little 'interaction' a few days ago, they had some arguments, and one of them was just Thorin being mad at Brandy for learning Khuzdul from Bofur. And boy, were they big ones.

Thorin refused to speak to her anymore or make eye contact, so Brandy was being stubborn, she was good at that. If Mr. High-And-Mighty King Thorin wanted to kiss her out of the blue, try to talk about what happened, and then start multiply arguments over- Eru, Brandy couldn't even remember what half of them were about. Oh yeah, he was gonna be getting the cold shoulder.

~We're Gonna Zip Back To Rivendell For A Sec~

"Something moves in the shadows unseen, hidden from our sight. It will not show itself. Not yet. But everyday it grows in strength. You must be careful." The lady Elf turned to Gandalf as they stood on a balcony, the first rays of sunlight turning her blond hair shades of oranges and pinks. The Wizard turned, walking down the stone stairs away from her.

"Mithrandir?" He stopped, turning slowly.

"Why the Halfling?" Galadriel asked, her white dress swaying slightly as she moved.

"I do not know," Gandalf replied, shaking his head, "Saruman believes that it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I have found. I have found it is the small things... everyday deeds of ordinary folk... that keeps the darkness at bay." He turned again facing the other direction. "Simple acts of kindness and love. Why Bilbo Baggins? Perhaps it is because I'm afraid.... and he gives me courage." He looked up when Galadriel held his hands in hers.

"Do not be afraid, Mithrandir. You are not alone." she said gently, moving a stray lock of hair out of his face. She spoke in Sindarin, and Gandalf bowed his head to the Elf, and when he looked up, she was gone.

~Back To The Company~

It was raining, and the thunder rumbling was a testimony to how bad the weather would get. And a certain soaked Hobbit for once wanted nothing to do with the rain. Thorin had clutched her by the arm the moment Balin had pointed out the stone giant rising from the cliff, and while the grip became increasingly painful as they hurried along the path, it had been a comfort to Brandy when her feet slid and she stumbled in the darkness between flashes of lightning. Then Thorin had shoved her towards safety when a rock tumbled down to the path and they had been separated. For a moment they were both staring towards the other, unable to close the distance.

No matter how they had been fighting since the blissful events of Rivendell, Brandy could see the guilty horror in Thorin's eyes when the mountain side stood up and that Valar forsaken ride had begun. She had heard the rasped cries of her name and the prince's as the company ran to them after. Thorin pinned Brandy in place with the intensity of his stare, ensuring she was not harmed. Brandy had barely been able to do more than try and put her feet beneath her again when all she really wanted to do was go back to Rivendell and bury her face in the crook of Thorin's neck and hide within the great furred coat. Not that she would-she was still pissed at him-, but the instinct was overwhelming.

She grasped at the rock as the two giants fought, and her eyes caught sight of Thorin and some of the others, safe and sound on solid land. Brandy held back a scream as she watched the rock grow closer to her face. Now, looking up, too scared to speak or cry for help. The wind around her was too strong and too loud for even her to hear if the others had noticed, and her own stupid voice was blocked by the lump in her throat. She clutched tighter to the stone and her feet kicked at the cliff, desperately trying to find a foothold.