Gold and Sapphires

9

When the group finally stopped to rest for the night, Kili and Fili had been appointed watch, however Ethíniel and Gandalf didn't fall asleep, both their minds troubled, they were worried for the challenges they would have to face and when Ethíniel's heritage and true being would be revealed. But their attention was brought back to the group when Bilbo woke up due to Bumbor's loud snoring, he angrily walked to wards the ponies, more specifically the one he had been riding and talked to her until a screech filled the air startling him.

"What was that?" he inquired the awake brothers, "Orcs." Kili replied earning a more worried echo from Bilbo "Orcs?" that awoke Thorin, "Throat-cutters. There'll be dozens of them out there. The lone-lands are crawling with them." Fili added before his younger brother concluded "They strike in the wee small hours when everyone's asleep. Quick and quiet, no screams. Just lots of blood." their words clearly startling Bilbo, who whirled around in search for Ethíniel, who merely leaned forward, away from the shadow that Gandalf was giving her.

His reaction caused the brother to snigger lowly until their uncle snapped "You think that's funny? You think a night raid by Orcs is a joke?" "We didn't mean anything by it" Kili defended, his tone low as was his head "No, you didn't. You know nothing of the world." Thorin agreed, walking away from the group and towards the edge of the small cliff they were in. "Don't mind him, laddie. Thorin has more cause than most to hate Orcs." Balin said, alerting everyone that he too was awake.

Ethíniel scoffed lightly at his words, knowing fully well that between Thorin and her, she had the most reason for hating orcs, goblins and any ugly creature that had originated from Mordor. "After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient Dwarf kingdom of Moria. But our enemy had got there first." Balin began, his eyes trailing to his king, "Moria had been taken by legions of Orcs led by the most vile of all their race, Azog the Defiler. The giant Gundabad Orc had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin. He began..." Balin continued but halted as pain struck him, his heart clenching at the memory.

"...by beheading the king. Thrain, Thorin's father, was driven mad by grief. He went missing. Taken prisoner or killed we did not know. We were leaderless. Defeat and death were upon us. That is when I saw him. A young Dwarf prince facing down the pale Orc. He stood alone against this terrible foe. His armor rent, wielding nothing but an oaken branch as a shield. Azog the Defiler learned that day that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken. Our forces rallied wand drove the Orcs back. And our enemy had been defeated. But there was no feast, nor song that night for our dead were beyond the count of grief. We few had survived. And I thought to myself then there is one who I could follow. There is one I could call king." he finished, the rest of the company having awoken during the trip down memory lane.

"And the pale Orc? What happened to him?" Bilbo dared ask from his new place, curled up into Ethíniel's petite body, "He slunk back into the hole whence he came. That filth died of his wounds long ago." Thorin replied in a sour tone. "Niel once told me a tale about a princess who had been through a similar situation." Bilbo said, bringing the attention to him and the Dragon princess next to him, "Who was the princess?" Ori inquired, "Nobody, that was a bedtime children's tale Bilbo, you were young and it's just a myth." Niel countered, not wanting to talk about her past.

Gandalf swallowed a few unneeded comments but rose a brow at the blonde, "Do tell, I don't think I've ever heard a tale about a princess in a similar situation." Thorin grumbled as he leaned back on his previous sitting spot, "And I do not think that you will enjoy this tale as it involves dragons." Ethíniel countered angrily, this peaked the interest of the dwarves, who instantly sat down with curious looks on their faces.