Hummingbird Heartbeat

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Bilbo was coming to in the dining room, where Maranda held out a cup of tea for him to drink from.

"Alright there?" she asked kindly and he looked at her in fear.

"Do I die?" he asked quickly and she frowned.

"Bilbo, I told you, I can't-"

"Please!" he begged and Maranda sighed. She closed her eyes and gripped the table. Her eyes squeezed tight she began to speak in a soft, eerie voice, almost like her storytelling voice, but more like what one would hear when from one of the old folk. Slow and steady at a beat no one could hear but them.

"Deep inside the Misty Mountains the fate of all sits idly, biding it's time to see the end days. A soft soul, filled with purpose and courage takes it and seeks to use it for good, but it snakes it's coils in his heart." She flinched and dropped her head onto the table. She sat up, breathing labored. "You will not die, but you will never, ever be the same," she said in a voice filled with pain and Bilbo's blood ran cold.

"I can't go," he mumbled and left. Maranda sighed and set her head on the table. Gandalf sat beside her, a small smile on his face.

"Are you alright my dear?" he asked and she shook her head.

"It hurts," she mumbled and looked up at him. "But he'll be with us by morning," she smiled knowingly and flinched again.

"Who are you?" Gandalf said curiously and she smiled sheepishly.

"Where I come from, I'm a human. I can See, but it was never like this. This awful clarity. Even without the Sight I know how this journey ends and every step along the way," she said earnestly and Gandalf nodded thoughtfully. "I don't know how I got here, but I know what I can do. And I'm going to do it," she said and he nodded.

"Best try and convince that fool of a Dwarf to let you come then," he smiled at her and they returned to the living room. Thorin was pacing and Maranda smiled shyly at him. He shot her a look of question and she tilted her head slightly. He sighed and turned to face the fire. Maranda sat between Fili and Kili and the two boys started talking softly with her about how amazing her powers were.

"You'll be amazing help on the road," Kili said excitedly and Thorin span around.

"She isn't coming." Silence filled the room and they all gaped at him. Gandalf frowned a bit, but Maranda didn't seem to mind. She shrugged and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

"Whatever," she said with a shrug and leaned against Kili. Thorin glared and turned back to the fire.

"Uncle, she could help us," Fili said in shock.

"She's not coming," Thorin growled and Maranda rolled her eyes.

"Don't bother, Fi. He's not going to change his mind. He never does." She flinched again and pressed a hand to her head. "Oops," she mumbled and they all stared at her.

"Was that..." Kili said in surprise and she looked sheepish.

"Yup."

"That's in the future? He doesn't change his mind about something?" Kili said and she nodded. All eyes turned to Thorin who frowned and cleared his throat. If they didn't know better they would say he was awkward.

"Besides. I'm not a real fighter or anything," she said, lowering her hand.

"Real fighter?" Dwalin said suspiciously.

"Well yeah. I did some sword and dagger stuff with my brothers, but I was never very good. I mean, I only beat David ten times so I'm obviously not the best." She looked awkward, her pointed ear turning red. "And my bow-work isn't nearly as good as it should be. My mom took mine after I shot an arrow through the kitchen window." She turned bright pink as the Boys laughed.

"But you can fight?" Balin said thoughtfully. The girl shrugged. "I vote she comes," he said abruptly and several people echoed his idea. Maranda seemed shocked at the support and cocked her head to one side.

"Why would you care?" she said looking around. "Oin can read portents and runes as well as anyone I've ever seen. I'm only a Seer because of blood. So what use am I?" She seemed sincerely confused as to why they would care at all.

"Doesn't matter," Kili squeezed her hand which he been holding for the past ten minutes. "Uncle is outvoted. You're coming." Thorin was about to explode when Maranda cuffed Kili behind the head.

"It's not a democracy, Ki. Thorin can do whatever he damn well pleases," Maranda said and shot Thorin a look. "No matter how stupid it is," she mumbled to Kili. She leaned against him and curled her feet against her. The room fell silent as Thorin watched the girl that was his One sit beside his nephew at peace. He couldn't let her get hurt. He would most surely die if she fell. But if he couldn't keep an eye on her...and tracking her down after they retook Erebor would take time...

"Fine," he said and everyone looked up. "She comes with us," he grumbled and in a half a moment she was at his side, hugging him around the neck and thanking him over and over for letting her come. He staggered back, looking about as shocked as the rest of them and a low laugh started around the room. He shot them a look and silence reigned once more. She let him go, seeming to have finally realized what she just did and cleared her throat awkwardly. She swept a stray piece of hair behind her pointed ear and walked meekly back beside the Boys.

Fili slung an arm around her and she smiled warmly at him. Kili looked a bit put out until she closed her eyes and took his hand, seeming to drift off to sleep. The low conversation filling the room was pierced by a low hum starting in the corner. Soon every Dwarrow was humming to the familiar tune. Then...

"Far over the Misty Mountains cold," Thorin said, eyes reflecting the fire light. "To dungeons deep, and caverns old. We must away, ere break of day to find or pale, enchanted gold." The Dwarves were all singing soon and as the song, ringing with sorrow and pain filled the tiny house, Thorin's eyes found his One. She was watching him, eyes wet and tears spilling down her pale cheeks. She watched him with an almost painful intensity and he felt something deep in his chest scream in anguish. The song ended abruptly and her eyes closed again, drifting off to a sincere sleep.

Fili and Kili were settling with her on the couch, all sleeping in a small pile of limbs and heads. As the Dwarves drifted off to sleep, pillows and blankets on the floor and in the soft chairs and cushions, Thorin was left alone at the fire, eyes lost in remembering. A soft hand came to rest on his shoulder and he looked up, expecting Kili and getting Maranda. He frowned as she sat down beside him, the warmth of the fire flushing her cheeks and making her hair look like gold.

"Are you okay?" she said softly, her face open and honest for once, not a mask of confidence that Thorin often wore himself.

"It's none of your concern," he said turning around. She put one hand on his shoulder, eyes boring into him.

"I said the same thing when my father died," she said and he stared at her in shock. "I told my closest friends it wasn't their problem. Stay out of it. And it just pushed them away. I didn't look strong. I didn't seem brave. I was being a bitch," she said and he frowned. "I was alone," she finished and tears flooded her eyes again. Thorin couldn't fight the impulse to place his hand on the back of her neck in comfort. She froze under his touch and her face grew even redder in the firelight. She hesitantly placed her hand over his wrist and closed her eyes. "I didn't have anyone there for me. No one wanted to be after a while. They all assumed I could just deal with it. And I fell apart."

"I won't," he said seriously and she opened her eyes.

"Yes. You will," she said and her eyes almost seemed to turn gold for a moment. She flinched hugely and pressed her hand to her head. "Oh, ow," she mumbled and Thorin pulled his hand back. She looked at him and seemed to shrink again. "You are not as strong as you seem to think you are," she said and flinched again.

"Stop," he said in worry.

"You need to trust him," she gasped, shaking in pain. "He's...the one who...fixes all of this...he's much...st-stronger...than...you..." She slumped forward and Thorin caught her gently. She was asleep again, peaceful in her rest even as her body shook.

"Maranda," Thorin said softly and shook his head. Who did she mean? Who was she talking about? Why had she hurt herself so much to tell him to trust someone? Thorin picked her up and moved her to the couch with Fili and Kili who wrapped their arms around her in protection. He fought a smile at the sight and went to find a place to sleep. Maranda.