The Lionheart (The Hobbit)

Chapter 16: I know

Tygr POV

Gandalf wasn't kidding when he said Echo would grow really fast. It had been three days and she was already a ton bigger than me. She also learned how to talk, which was nice.

I walked alongside Thorin, who had finally grown to tolerate the presence of a dragon. Echo actually saved us once or twice from an Orc attack.

I glanced up at the King, I felt my face heat up when he was around me lately, along with my heart pounding. I glanced up at him once more to see him already looking at me. I panicked and looked at the ground. "Tygr, are you alright?" He asked. I nodded fast. We looked ahead to see the dwarves where starting to get tired. "Maybe...we should take a break and continue in a little while." I said. Thorin nodded in agreement. "Let's all stop and rest for a little bit. Nobody wander off to far....or do anything stupid with their dragon." Thorin said...souly looking at me when he said the last sentence. I grinned and nodded. "Common Echo!" I said running off, my dragon in tow.

We ran along the trail and up to a small cliff that led down into a beautiful valley. "Whoa..." I said standing on the edge. "Don't stand to close to the edge..." I heard a voice behind me. I looked back to see Echo with a worried look on her face. "Did you say that?" I asked. She nodded, "yes, please be careful!" She said. I nodded and laughed before turning back. I lifted my arms and folded them behind my head, my stomach becoming completely exposed due to me pulling my shirt up while stretching. I didn't mind though, the breeze felt nice. "It's really beautiful out here." I said. "Yeah...it is. Where are we?" Echo asked. "No idea~" I laughed. "Hey Tygr?" Echo said. "Yeah?" I asked sitting down on the rock, looking over my shoulder at her. "Can I go fly for a little while?" She asked. I nodded, "don't go to far though." I said. She nodded and took all, blowing a massive gust of wind at me as she took off. I tucked my knees to my chest and watched her fly and twirl. "I wish I could fly..." I whispered. I watched her for a while before she came back and landed on the rock infront of mine.

((((*cough* *cough* the picture is exactly what this scene looks like *cough* *cough* :3)))))

"Your so lucky" I said smiling. Echo cocked her head, "why?" She asked. "Because you can fly! I'd give anything to have the ability to fly!" I said. "Would you like to?" She asked. "W-what?" I asked. "You can ride on my back. I'll take you flying!" She said excited. I jumped up not believing what I was hearing. "You would really let me ride you!?" I asked. Echo nodded then picked me up by wrapping her tail around my waist and setting me on her back. I held onto two small horns on her back. "Be careful though!" I said, a tiny bit scared of falling. "I will, I would never let you fall!" She said. Smoothly she jumped off the ground and glided into the air. I squeaked and flew down hugging her body for dear life. "Tygr! It's okay!" Echo said. I cracked my eyes open and looked. We where gliding calmly through the valley. "I-it's so beautiful..." I whispered. I smiled and sat up. "This is amazing!!!" I yelled happily, holding my arms out. I smiled and closed my eyes. "Is this what it's like for you every time you fly?" I asked. "Well, yes I suppose. I imagine it's more amazing for you since you can't fly like me." Echo said. I laughed and nodded, "that would make sense." I said. I sighed and patted her neck. "We should probably go back." I said. Echo then turned and glided back around and landed on the cliff. I smiled up at her after I got off. "Your amazing Echo!" I laughed before hugging her neck. I felt her one foot wrap around me and her head lower over my shoulder. I let go and looked up at her. "I can't wait to grow up with you," I said before looking at us both. "Well...more than we already have!" I laughed. Echo nodded. I formed into a wolf and back along the path, Echo behind me. "I thought we where two animals short!" Bofur said with a smile before petting my head. I formed back into a girl. "Yep! We're here though~" I said. "Where did you go?" Thorin asked. "Um...just over by the edge of the valley." I said scratching the back of my head. "Well what did you go do?" Thorin asked raising an eyebrow. "Why does your hair look so Windblown?" Kili asked. "Uh...well...I may or may not have flew Echo..." I muttered. Thorin gave me a surprised look. He laughed and shook his head, "W-what? Your not going to yell at me? Tell me I'm an immature child who knows nothing of the world?!" I asked shocked. He said nothing just laughed and shook his head. I panicked and grabbed the sleeve of his shirt and pulled, "Why are you laughing?!?!?! Scold me or something!!!" I said. Thorin looked at me with a grin before ruffling my hair. "Your going to get yourself killed one day, why do I even bother warning you." He said before turned around and walking the other way. "Um....what?" I muttered. Balin placed a hand on my shoulder. "Dear...he's only worried. You haven't been listening to him and you never heed his warnings, he honestly just wants the best for you." Balin said with a sad smile. I felt a pang of guilt in my stomach, I remembered back to all the things he's tried to warn me about.

*flashback*

*this morning*

I walked along with Echo and Kili. We stopped...a goose. "I'm gonna chase it." I said, dead serious. "Tygr don't chase the goose. You'll get bitten." Thorin said shaking his head. I laughed, "no I won't!" I said before sprinting after the Goose. It hissed at me and flapped it wings. "AHH!!!" I screamed mad skidded to a stop, running into it, giving it enough time to bite my arm. "Ow!!!!" I whined. Thorin sighed and kneeled down next to me. "I told you it would bite you." He said. "I know..." I muttered.

*last night*

"There's your stew lass." Bofur said handing me the bowl. It was steaming like no other though I didn't care. "Tygr let it cool or you'll burn your tongue." Thorin said walking past. "Yeah yeah whatever." I said before chugging the stew...burning not only my mouth but my throat. "AHHHHH-" Thorin shoved a hand full of snow into my mouth and I swallowed it, completely cooling down my throat. "I told you to let it cool!" Thorin said irritated. "I know..." I muttered.

*four days ago* ((Tygr is still a child))

"Okay now Tygr, you need to stay clear or Kili, he's practicing shooting okay?" Thorin said looking me dead in the eye. "Okay!" I said giggling. He nodded and left. I looked down at the egg in my lap. "I hope your pretty..." I whispered. Suddenly something out of the corner of my eye caught my sight. A hedgehog! "Ahhh! So cute!" I said before jumping to go to the hedgehog. In my hast the egg launched from my lap and rapidly started to roll. "No!!" I squealed. I ran after it however unknowingly I was running right for where Kili was shooting. "Tygr NO!" I heard Thorin yelled before I was tackled to the ground as an arrow barely missed Thorin's head. "I'm so sorry!!! What are you two doing?!?!" Kili asked panicked. Thorin growled in frustration and stood up, lifting me off the ground and holding me out infront of him. "WHAT DID I TELL YOU?!" He yelled. "D-don't go near Kili..." I wimpered. "AND WHAT DID YOU DO?" He yelled. "I went near Kili!" I cried, tears falling down my face. Thorin looked at me with concern before hugging me tightly. His hand petted my hair, "please don't scare me like that again! I would be so sad if you where to get hurt, or for Durin's sake killed." He whispered. "I know..." I whimpered before hugging the king tightly.

*end of flashback*

I covered my mouth with my hands as my eyes watered. "I need to apologize!" I said before starting to run, I stopped when I realized Echo was following me. "No Echo you stay here okay? I need to talk to Thorin." I said. Echo looked hurt but stayed nonetheless. I nodded and sprinted after Thorin who was standing looking over the valley. "Thorin!" I said. He turned and glanced at me before turning his back to me once again. "Yes?" He asked. "C-can you look at me?" I asked. My ears where flattened and my tail hung, I was a nervous reck. He turned and looked at me with his bright blue eyes. "I-I wanted to say I'm sorry! I'm sorry I don't listen to you when I really should! You keep telling me when something will hurt me and I never listen then a always get hurt, but the truth is is I'm an idiot and I know that and I need someone like you to keep me from doing stupid stuff so can you please keep telling me if something's going to hurt me!?!" I said before throwing myself at him and hugging him tightly around the middle. I cried into his chest. "I'll probably die if you don't!!" I said. I felt Thorin rub my back, "of course I will. I wasn't planning to stop in the first place."

Thorin POV

Tygr looked up at me, her eyes where red and puffy. "Y-you wherent?" she asked, her voice was shaken. I smiled slightly and pressed my forehead to hers. "Of course I wasn't. I don't know what I would do if you got hurt...or for Durin's sake killed." I said. She smiled at me and hugged me again. "Thank you Thorin...it's nice knowing I can always count on you to keep me safe." She said lovingly. I sighed and patted her back, "I know."