The Dark Dragon of Middle Earth

Beorn, the Last Skin-changer

"The worst thing in the world is watching someone you love suffer in pain when there is nothing you can do to stop it."

- Vanessa Wilhoit -

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Wargs soon jump up the trees, trying to sink their teeth into anything to drag us out. Climbing higher, the dwarves are safer. I only stop halfway, making sure they are safe first. I shift the skin around my legs into scales to make sure I don't lose one.

Gandalf lights a pinecone on fire, tossing it to the ground in front of the beasts. He lights more, and soon, a blaze stops the wargs. But the damage is done.

Our tree leans, and soon falls into another, causing us to jump from tree to tree. The dwarves are scattered, some dangling over the empty space below the cliff. I happened to grab onto a branch next to Dwalin as I was sent rolling almost over the edge. Looking up, I see Thorin standing. His elvish blade is drawn, glistening like silver in the moonlight. He has a shield made of oak on his arm. He turns around to look at us. When his eyes finally meet mine, I shake my head to tell him no. He just gives me a smile, before he turns around and runs to Azog with his sword raised.

A million emotions and thoughts are going through my head, mainly anger. Anger at Azog, at the stubbornness of the dwarves, something I might have to beat out of Thorin.

I feel my teeth sharpening, my nails growing into claws. Joints are being pulled halfway, making me hold onto my branch to keep from shifting. I don't let go, or I will shift and ruin my clothes. I can't hold on for much longer, as the pain is making me lose my grip. But I can't shake the anger rushing through me.

"AAAHHH!"

The sound of Thorin's cry makes me look up. I see him thrown onto a slab of rock, and I can't move to help.

"Thorin!!"

All goes blank, as I let go of the branch. Air rushes up, my weight dropping me down to the ground. The last thing I see in the night sky is the outline of a giant bird. The last thing I hear, is my name.

Gandalf

Elanor let go of her branch.

"ELANOR!"

I look back at the Hobbit, seeing him defend Thorin from the Pale Orc. The White Warg inches closer to Bilbo, who's swinging his sword. The beast rushes forward, and throws him back. But before it can feast, the eagles are here!

I try to hold on to Dori and Ori, who hang onto my staff. But they drop, and are caught by an eagle. The eagles start helping: fanning the fire, picking up wargs, and dropping them off the cliff. The dwarves are picked up, along with Bilbo and Thorin. When the rest are safe, I jump off, and land on the back of the leader. I hear the dwarves call out Thorin and Elanor's names, both unconscious. Elanor's face shows she's still in pain, sweat running down her head.

All through the rest of the night, we fly. When morning comes, the eagles take us to the Carrock. Setting the two of our comrades down gently, they fly back into the sky. When I jump off the back of the eagle, the dwarves have already surrounded them.

"Out of my way! Now!" I yell. They move back, and I kneel next to Thorin. He's pale, but he'll live. Placing my hand on his forehead, I whisper healing words, and he wakes up. When he sees me, he asks, "The halfling?" I give him a smile. "Bilbo's fine." The others help Thorin up, and he moves to Bilbo.

"What were you thinking? You could have been killed! Did I not say you would be a burden?!?!" Thorin yells at the Hobbit. Bilbo looks down in disappointment. "Never have I been so wrong in my life!" Thorin hugs Bilbo, who stands shocked, but not for long. Soon, I turn back to Elanor. Her body needs rest, but we have to move. I gently shake her shoulder.

"Elanor, you must get up. We have to move." She opens her eyes, but barely. She looks so tired.

"G-Gandalf. How . . . is he?" She sounds so weak, too. I give her a small smile. "See for yourself."

She tries to sit up, but her arms slip. Thorin moves forward, kneels, and sits her up gently. She starts crying in his coat, holding tightly onto the fabric. When she's shed her last tear, she makes Thorin look at her.

"MAKE ME WORRY LIKE THAT AGAIN, YOU STUBBORN-HEADED DWARF, AND I WILL DROP YOU FROM THE TOP OF THE LONELY MOUNTAIN AFTER CARRYING YOU FROM MY TAIL!!! DO SOMETHING STUPID LIKE THAT AGAIN, THORIN OAKENSHIELD, AND YOU WILL HAVE BRUISES THAT WILL LAST FOR A LIFETIME!!! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!?!"

Thorin nods, too scared like the rest of us to say a word. She gives him a nod. "Good." Then she pulls him down into a very heated kiss. The dwarves applaud, and I roll my eyes at this woman.

When they've finished and Elanor is on her feet, we make our way down the Carrock.

~~~~

Elanor

Thorin stands next to me while I sit. We've stopped with no breaks from the orcs, who seem to be getting closer and closer.

Everything about my body is screaming to rest. My feet have started to hurt, my legs and arms feel like weights. My head drops either way, taking a big effort for me to raise it. My back is slouching, my hair is in a dirty bun, and my face feels disgusting. My whole body feels disgusting. I can't smell anything right now, making it a good and bad thing.

Good, because I don't have to smell how dirty these men I am travelling with must be. Bad, because I can't tell what might be around.

I hear footsteps, and stand with my sword partially out its sheath. When Bilbo comes back, I sit back down. Everyone begins to question the Hobbit.

"How far are they?" "Not that far behind. But there's something else."

"What is it?" "Is it the orcs?" "Did they pick up our scent?"

"No, but-" He's cut off from the dwarves, who cheer for him. Thorin comes, and puts a hand on my shoulder. I smile at him, resting my head on his chest.

"I'm trying to tell you there's something else out there!" Bilbo yells, rendering us all quiet. Gandalf looks at him. "What form did it take? A bear?" The Hobbit looks at him skeptically. "Yes, but bigger." Thorin turns around to Gandalf, an arm around my waist when I stand beside him. "You knew of this beast?" "Why don't we go around?" "Because the orcs will overrun us. We're tired enough as it is. Plus, Elanor needs to rest," Dwalin adds from seeing my poor state. I send him a thankful look, him giving me a nod in return.

Gandalf is silent, before he turns back to us. "There is a house. Not far from here. We can take refuge there. There will be food, shelter." "Whose home will it be? It'll be rude to impose on an unsuspecting house, . . . not that it's been done before," I ask and say, making all the dwarves chuckle lowly and Bilbo giving a grimace.

"Yes. Is he friend or foe?" asks Thorin. "Neither," is Gandalf's answer. "What choice do we have?" asks Bofur. We hear a roar closeby. We all look at each other, then at Gandalf.

"None."