Inflamed (Harry Potter & The Hobbit/LOTR Crossover) (LegolasxOC)

14- The Skin-Changer

We had been on the road again for two days. Thorin was recovering greatly thanks to my mum's healing tea and Óin's watchful eye, though he was mostly letting me take over Thorin's healing. At the moment, we were at a standstill, Bilbo out scouting to see how close the Orc pack was. Thorin took a seat, trying to hide his exhaustion. I walked over and knelt beside him. He looked at me from under his lashes.

"You alright?" I asked, gently tipping his head back with my hand on his chin to get a better look at the cuts on his face. He sighed, nodding. "Tired?" I guessed knowingly. He nodded again. I bit my lip and went to grab my bag. "Take off your shirts. I want to see how those bite marks are doing." The Dwarves nearby wolf-whistled, making me scowl at them.

Thorin rolled his eyes and did as told, his cheeks flushed a light red. I bent down next to him, gently unwinding the bandages and touching the red marks that scattered across his body. Luckily, the bleeding had stopped, but they looked like they hurt a lot. The poor guy probably couldn't sleep well because his body ached and wasn't getting rest. He inhaled sharply, telling me that they still hurt in some places. It was lucky, however, that he wore so many layers, which had protected him for the most part. Had I been the one to be a Warg's chewtoy, I'd have easily broken several ribs and/or ruptured something. I chewed on my lower lip and went looking for a certain bottle in my bag.

I gave him more lily tea. I was trying my best to preserve it, but he needed it badly. As he pulled the bottle away from his mouth, handing it to me, he asked, "What is this magic potion of yours? It works like...well, magic!" I chuckled. "It's a very special healing tea that comes from flower petals. My mum is the only one who can brew it. I'm lucky that she always makes me take a bottle with me when I go riding."

Thorin raised an eyebrow, heaving his several shirts and jackets back on. "Riding? On horseback?" I smiled, thinking of my horse Robin. "Yes, there's this forest right by my house that I love to go trail-riding in...It's very peaceful. And the trees seem to come alive when the wind blows―" I cut myself off abruptly, feeling homesick.

I cleared my throat and looked to the ground, busying myself to keep from crying. Surprisingly, Thorin rested a hand on my shoulder, comfortingly. "You'll see your home again." I smiled up at him, standing and brushing off my pants. "Miss Paige." Thorin called as I walked away. I turned. "Yes?" He motioned towards his face. "I haven't seen you tend to your own wounds yet."

I furrowed my eyebrows, realizing that he was right. I'd been so wrapped up in tending to the others that I had forgotten about myself, my body was still aching all over place, in some areas that I wasn't used to feeling pain in. "Thanks for reminding me. I'll be right back. Just take it easy, okay? And Thorin, call me Paige. No 'Miss'." He smiled genuinely at me for the first time.

I smiled to myself at the thought of our progress. From not-quite-enemies, to acquaintances, and now to friends. All in a matter of almost two months. It was strange to think that I'd been away from home longer than this, when I went to Hogwarts, but it felt so different. I wondered if my family was worried about me or if it was like Narnia and the second I returned would be in the exact moment I left.

I pushed my way through a grove of trees to the nearby river. Looking around to find the coast clear, I took off Kíli's cloak, my jacket, and my shirt to see what sort of injuries I had. I grimaced, seeing ugly bruises, cuts, and gashes littering my body. Deciding it would be best to clean up for the first time in a few days, I put protective enchantments around me and stripped off the rest of my clothes.

I gasped at the coldness of the river water, freeing my hair from my messy French braid, and dunking my head under water. I luckily had a small bar of soap on me I took from Rivendell, and was able to wash my body and hair. It wasn't much, but I felt better. When I was done, I washed my clothes, Kíli's cloak, and my sleeping blanket until my knuckles were red and raw. I dried myself off and everything else with the Hot Air Charm, rebraiding my hair.