Hummingbird Heartbeat

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

"Maranda," Beorn rumbled and she glared belligerently up at him. "I believe this is yours." He extended a roll of paper to her with a crimson seal.

"Beatrix's other letter," Maranda breathed and took it carefully. She broke the seal and sat in the hay to read. It filled her with fear.

Dear one,

You have elected to stay, I cannot say I am happy about it, but I do hope you find happiness. I've taken a few months here to look about, and what I see fills me with fear. Mordor is in chaos. Even now, so long before the coming of the dragon Smaug, I find myself at a loss as to how to explain the dark work there. Beasts are bred and born of dark intent and foul magic that fills me with trepedation. Sunlight stalls them and causes pain, but they seem to be breeding this out of themselves. It will not be long before they can walk across a sunlit plain as easily as an Elf. Steer clear of that dark land. I do not know how long from now, but the dragon is coming, so do not tread near Erebor, the Lonely Mountain. Seek out Radagast or remain here with Beorn. He will be able to protect you. This world is not one of magic and joy, but of war and death. Please, stay safe. Yours dearly,

Beatrix Potter, Elf-friend

Maranda clenched her fists and curled the paper, dumping it in the hay. She stormed over to her bag and shoved her cloak inside. Kili glanced at her and then at the scroll she left behind.

"Bad news?"

"Worrying women with no backbone," she snarled and kicked at the ground. "Can we leave now?"

"Yes," Grumbled Thorin, glaring at Beorn. They all went outside, ready to leave. Only one problem.

"Thirteen ponies and one horse," Maranda grumbled as she tucked her wing, wrapped in clean white cloth, into her bag. "There are fourteen of us smaller folk, and he doesn't have one extra pony. It's like he's begging me to kick his ass," she mumbled. Kili pulled himself onto his pony and was chatting with Fili as she tied on her cloak. "Ki, can I ride with you?" she called over and the two exchanged a look she didn't miss.

"Um, no, sorry. Ask Uncle," Kili called over with a winning smile and Maranda glared at her friend.

"I swear to Aule, I'm going to fucking kill you," she snapped and he tittered nervously.

"Yes, yes of course," he responded as Fili laughed at him. She sighed and glanced at Bilbo who was struggling with his own pony. She started towards him when a hand appeared in her line of sight. She jumped with a squeak and threw up her fists. Thorin gave her a long suffered look and beckoned with his extended hand.

"The wizard is delaying us enough, come along, Maranda," he said firmly and she sighed

"Kili is going to laugh his head off," she warned and took his hand.

"What happened to not caring?" he asked as she settled in the saddle in front of him. She shrugged.

"I must have picked up a few fucks to give in the Goblin tunnels. Oh wait, there they go," she said and looked off into the sky. He frowned. "It's...it's a joke Thorin...It's-oh nevermind," she sighed and leaned back against him.

"What is keeping that wizard?" Thorin grumbled.

"It's important, leave him," Maranda sighed and looked up at the clouds. "He's too fancy for us short people," she mumbled and Thorin glanced down at her. She looked lost in thought and almost sad. Thorin was about to reprimand her slip in self control when she spoke. "I wonder what my mother thinks. I've been gone close to six months. She must be worried sick. I miss her so much, sometimes. She was always there for me. Even when I was going crazy from depression and the kids at school and the cutting..." She stopped and looked at Thorin. "Is that stupid? That I miss her?"

"No," Thorin said softly. "I miss my own family deeply. It is why I cling to Fili and Kili as I do," he said. "With my grandfather dead, my father gone..."

"He's alive," Maranda said suddenly and Thorin looked at her. "I should have said something earlier, but he is alive. Azog took him to Dol Gordul. He loves you." She smiled faintly. "He really loves you so much, Thorin." The King stared at the girl in front of him as she looked out over the fields. He could say it. Now. It was the perfect opening, but the confirmation that his father was alive...

"Dol Gordul?" he asked and she glanced at him.

"Oh, Thorin, no. That's not how this story ends. We're too late for your father, I'm so sorry but we are too late. He's lost to the world. Insane, sick. Our story leads us to Erebor. Gandalf's story leads him to Dol Gordul. He is the one who finds the fate of the Seventh Dwarf Ring, and it is you who rides to Ere-" She gasped and shook against Thorin's chest. He wrapped an arm around her to keep her from falling and she gasped. "I-I'm fine."

"Stop doing that," he warned and she shuddered.

"I know, I know I'm sorry," she whimpered and he pulled her closer. On a whim that took a lot of courage he pressed a swift kiss to the top of her head through her choppy curls and he felt her tense.

"Be more careful. I don't want to lose my oracle," he said and she sighed.

"We really should be go-"

"Yes, GANDALF!" he called, face slightly pink. They set out at once, headed for Mirkwood. The ride was swift, the ponies almost abnormally fast and after only a day of riding they reached the forest. Thorin leapt down from the pony and Offered Maranda one hand. She gave him a teasing look, but let him help her down anyway before gazing at the woods in worry.

"Don't worry we'll protect you," Fili beamed and she glared.

"In case you've forgotten I'm the one who knows what's inside that boiling cesspit of leaves and tree shagging pricks," she snapped and Fili snickered. "Shut up or I'll let the spiders eat you," she growled and shivered slightly.

"Oh yeah, some little spider is gonna eat me," he snorted. Maranda cast him a withering look.

"Who said little?" Fili stopped laughing. Gandalf suddenly rushed out from the wood.

"Not my horse!" he shouted.

"You're not leaving us?" Bilbo said in fear and Thorin glanced at Maranda who had her eyes on the ground.

"I have business," Gandalf said. "This is not the Greenwood of old. There is-"

"A river in the middle, don't touch it, don't eat anything, stay on the path, don't get lost, and don't make the Elves angry," Maranda rattled of loudly and Gandalf shot her a piercing look.

"Listen to Maranda. She's in charge. Wait for me on the outlook." Maranda gaped at him as Thorin shot Gandalf an angry look. Bilbo stopped Gandalf as he walked past. Maranda span to face Thorin.

"Th-thorin, I-I can't be in ch-charge, you're leading I just-"

"You know what awaits inside, you will guide us," Thorin said firmly and she trembled like a leaf. "I have faith in you," he said and she nodded. Gandalf rode off and everyone shuffled awkwardly. The rain started up and Maranda looked to the cloudy skies.

"We should probably go," she mumbled to Thorin. He nodded and they went in. Maranda caught Bilbo's arm. "Stay close, okay?" she mumbled and he nodded. Thorin dragged her to the front and she pushed through the trees, glaring at the red eye painted on the Elven Lady Statue. She kicked her feet, the sound of skin on stone a steady rhythm they all followed. "The path is tricky. It likes to hide and Elven paths tend to be a bit cold to anyone but Elves. Hopefully it will let me follow it since I'm a Fairy, but I haven't seen that far yet."

"You mean you can See the path?" Kili asked and she nodded.

"I can see where it leads, so it should be fairly easy to follow, but we must never stray from it, not even for a minute. Not even to camp. We set up camp on the path, no fires, and ration the food."

"We have plenty of food," Fili said confidently.

"And a long, long way to go," Maranda snapped and he fell silent.