Complicated (Thorin Oakenshield x Reader) [Slow Updates]

Chapter Three

(Y/N) reaches down and pats the neck of her little horse, Myrtle. The pony had been borrowed to her by the company, and she had no complaints. Having a horse makes travel much faster and more efficient.

Although the soreness I could do without, (Y/N) thinks, shifting around in the saddle uncomfortably.

It's been a few days since she's "joined" the company, and they've been traveling throughout all of them. Not to say that (Y/N) hasn't grown used to travel, but she's never traveled for this long without many breaks.

Not that she's complained about it. She wants to gain the company's trust, which also requires scoring brownie points with the members. Her ways of doing this include listening to Balin's stories, making meals every now and then, and trying her best to be a good person to talk with and be around.

Although, to be perfectly honest, she hadn't done super great in that department.

Whatever. All that matters is removing that Dwarf from the equation and getting Annabelle back, (Y/N) thinks, a dark look spreading across her face. A couple of the Dwarves give her a concerned glance.

"You alright, lass?" Balin asks, moving his pony so that it's walking alongside hers. She nods absently, becoming a little lost in thought.

He looks at her with a slight frown.      (Y/N) draws herself out of her thoughts and smiles.

"Really, I'm fine!" she says, patting Myrtle on the neck again. Balin's frown dissolves, and he nods before riding back toward the front of the group.

I could really do with these Dwarves not breathing down my neck, (Y/N) thinks grumpily. Even the friendlier ones.

Most members of the company had warmed up to her over the last couple of days. In turn, she'd done her best to memorize their names, though she still mixed them up now and then.

For the most part, they all like her. That being said, they also don't know of her mission. For all they know, she's a weary traveler on her way to Laketown.

Fools, she thinks, a small smirk appearing on her face but soon turning to a frown. I do have valid reasons for what I'm doing, but still... it feels wrong.

(Y/N) sighs heavily, thinking bitterly of how unfair her situation is. She notices a few of the Dwarves give her a concerned look again. She tries to wipe her frown away, and when that doesn't work, she looks out into the woods in an attempt to hide her face.

It doesn't really work, as they keep looking at her, but she continues to unconvincingly pretend to be admiring the beauty of nature.

Come to think of it, this path is dazzling, she realizes, beginning to actually take in the grandeur of the lands around them, with the beautiful twisted old trees and small creatures weaving their ways through the undergrowth.

"We'll camp here for the night!" (Y/N) hears Oakenshield's voice ring out from somewhere further ahead on the path. She leans forward in her saddle in order to catch a glimpse of their place of shelter.

It's an old, ruined farm. (Y/N) frowns slightly.

At this rate, I'll never even get a chance to carry out my task, she thinks in frustration. The burnt down old farm is in a small rocky clearing in the forest; not exactly the best location for assassin work, as there's practically nowhere to hide.

As those at the back of the group ride up the hill and dismount their steeds, herself included, (Y/N) analyzes the area. No, it's not a very good place for her objective, but it is a relatively nice place to set up camp.

"Fili, Kili, look after the ponies," Oakenshield orders the brothers. "Make sure you stay with them."

(Y/N) walks over to the two and hands Myrtle's reins to Fili. He nods to her, and she walks farther up the hill to rejoin the group.

When she reaches the top, she overhears Gandalf and Thorin arguing.

"But I've told you already. I will not go near that place," Oakenshield says stubbornly.

"Why not? The Elves could help us, we could get food, rest, advice," Gandalf persists.

"I do not need their advice."

"We have a map that we cannot read. Lord Elrond could help us."

This seems to set Thorin off.

"Help? A dragon attacks Erebor. What help came from the Elves? Orcs plunder Moria, desecrate our sacred halls, the Elves looked on and did nothing! You ask me to seek out the very people who betrayed my grandfather, who betrayed my father."

"You are neither of them. I did not give you that map and key for you to hold on to the past," Gandalf says, growing irritated.

"I did not know they were yours to keep," Oakenshield says, his words pushing the wizard over the edge.    (Y/N) sidesteps Gandalf as he angrily trudges off into the forest.

"Mister Gandalf, are you alright? Where are you going?" she says, playing up the innocent little girl act.

"To seek the company of the only one around here who’s got any sense," he grumbles.

"And who might that be?" she asks, though able to assume the answer pretty easily.

"Myself, Miss (L/N)! I've had enough of Dwarves for one day," the wizard half shouts, disappearing into the trees.

(Y/N) walks back to the group, hardly able to hold back a satisfied smirk. With the wizard out of the way, completing her mission just became a whole lot easier.