Hummingbird Heartbeat

Chapter 35

Chapter 35

After the sun came back up, the three climbed down from the tower. Maranda dragged a small dinghy she found among the wreckage over to them. Bard and Bain climbed in and she pushed from the back, wings working furiously. She was exhausted. She hadn't eaten, hadn't slept and was using way more magic than she had since the Goblin caves. Flying was more physically exhausting than Hip Hop Abs marathons with her mom. She was failing and she knew it, but she had no time to rest. She needed to get back to land and find her lads.

She could hear cheers and calls of joy from the beach and the wooded area beyond. They were all safe then. Wet, probably, but safe. She could also hear Alfreds annoying voice among the crowd ordering a woman to give him food. When they got to the beach Bard went to deal with Alfred, Bain running after his father. Maranda rubbed her brow and exhaled heavily.

"Mara!" cried a familiar voice and she turned, a relieved smile on her face. Kili scooped her up and kissed her cheek exuberantly. "We thought you were all dead!" he laughed and Maranda shoved him away from her.

"Who me? Not a chance," she grinned as Fili hugged her and pressed a swift kiss to her other cheek. Bofur hugged her and then Oin pulled her into a quick embrace as well. Then there was Tauriel. She looked a bit awkward but with a bound Maranda leapt up to her level and hugged her around the neck. "I'm glad you're safe," she said "All of you."

"Now we can go to the Mountain!" Kili said in joy.

"No," Maranda snapped and they all stared at her. "The Mountain is still sick. I don't want any of you in it, particularly you two." She pointed at the boys. "I want you to help move these people to Dale." She waved a hand vaguely around them and closed her eyes.

"But Uncle-"

"Thorin isn't himself just now," she said heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose. She had a headache. "Believe me, you'll want to be outside the walls of Erebor at least for another few days. It's...dark inside that mountain. I don't even want to go back, but I might be able to get Thorin out of there." She was suddenly grabbed from behind and lifted off the ground. She gave a scream of shock as someone tall and thin hugged her tightly.

"My love, I had feared the worst when I saw the dragon plummet," sobbed a voice and Maranda pushed the head of silky, blonde hair away from her face.

"Gerrof!" she said and fluttered to the ground. Where she stumbled and fell on her boat. She put a hand to her head.

"Darling?" Legolas said bending down beside her. On impulse she reached out and slapped him across the face. He reeled back and stared in shock as the Dwarves giggled and Tauriel gaped in shock.

"I'm not your darling, I don't love you, we're not getting married, I like Dwarves and you don't love me! Now shut up!" she shouted angrily and Legolas sat on the grass moping. She huffed and wobbled to her feet. "Tauriel. I suggest staying with Kili. He needs to be watched by someone who won't let him run off to the Mountain and hurt himself," she said glancing at Fili. Tauriel nodded with a smile.

"My pleasure," she said and Kili stepped towards her.

"I'm sure," Maranda said dryly and turned to Legolas who looked at her mopily. She sighed and prayed for patience. "Legolas," she said walking over to him. "Believe me when I tell you I'm not the one. She is out there and she will come for you. But she isn't me. Now, where were the Orcs heading?" she asked and he sighed.

"Gundabad," he mumbled.

"And what should you do?"

"Go after them."

"So why are you still here?" she asked gently and Legolas stumbled up and dusted off his pants.

"Farewell," he said mopily and climbed onto a horse and galloped off. She turned and almost threw up. Not because she was dizzy and hungry, but because Kili and Tauriel were holding hands and had their faces very close together.