29

Talia woke up early the next morning with sunlight in her eyes, watching as the dawn crept through the trees. Thorin still slept soundly behind her, breathing softly on her neck. Sparing a glance around her, she was grateful for the expanse of the camp; for once, they had some privacy from the rest of the Company. Sitting up, she gently moved Thorin's arm from her side, sparing a glance to smile down at him. She was glad that he had allowed the Company the rest, for he had needed it more than anyone. However, now was the time to take their leave. As much as she would like to stay in this utopia forever, she knew the Orcs would be upon them soon.

She decided to enlist the sleeping dwarf beside her to help rouse the Company, but first she would have to wake him. Normally, she would've taken joy in kicking him in the shin like everyone else, but his body was still worn from his wounds. Grinning to herself, she thought of a solution that she knew both of them would like.

Talia leaned down, putting a hand on his chest as she brought her lips to his. His blue eyes fluttered open, but once they saw her, he pulled her closer to him and closed them in bliss. She grinned as he deepened the kiss, biting his lip playfully to break them apart.

"Hi."

"Hi."

She laughed, lowering herself over him once more and swinging her leg to his other side. Now, she was straddling him, trailing kisses down his neck as her hands gripped his chest. She felt his voice rumble through his body as he let out an almost inaudible moan below her. She loved how she could make him feel.

"Fuck, Talia," He breathed in between kisses, his hands roaming all over her. She pulled herself closer to him, if even possible, and kissed him harder; she loved it when he swore. "What are you doing?"

"Having that fun you said you'd show me." She whispered, energized by the mischief of the morning.

But before she could continue, a voice cleared it's throat from behind, startling both of them. Thorin practically shoved her off him, but she was already rolling away, looking up at the mysterious figure before them.

The wizard's eyes twinkled as he surveyed the pair in their embarrassment. The slightest smile of amusement sat below a quirked brow, though it was basically the only thing holding back his laughter. "I am sure Fili and Kili would like cousins, I am not so sure they would deem this journey the appropriate time nor place for such."

"Good morning, Gandalf." Talia said breathlessly, standing swiftly and dusting herself off. She helped Thorin up, undeterred; she was not easily embarrassed. But Thorin bowed his head, staying silent so as to avoid any further flush in his cheeks.

The wizard chuckled lightly in response, turning on his heel and returning to the Company without another word. While he whacked the dwarves awake with his staff, Talia took to adjusting Thorin's collar, holding in her own laughter through pursed lips as he stared her down.

"Spit it out, Thorin." She teased.

"You always have the worst ideas."

She scoffed, feigning mild offense as she pulled a twig from his hair. "Come on." She grinned, pecking his nose. "There are worse ways to wake up. Besides, I know for a fact that the wizard is much naughtier with the Lady of Light."

Though Thorin's smile showed what he really thought of their chemistry, he had to resort to logic. "Talia, Lady Galadriel is married."

"Tell that to her!" She snorted, making Thorin chuckle. "She clearly doesn't know it."

The pair turned to assist Gandalf in rousing the dwarves, for sun had risen. Although Thorin took to gently shaking his people awake, the ones that got Talia were less fortunate, receiving swift kicks in the shins as they grumbled. Before long, the Company was packed and ready, beginning the next phase of their journey beyond Carrock.

Though the Eagles had given them time to escape the Orcs, it ran short as soon as night fell. Once more, the Company found themselves running through the woods at the mercy of the pack, doing their best to remain hidden from them. As the night neared to an end, the Company arrived at an outcrop of boulders that bordered the forest line and the plains, pausing momentarily.

"Bilbo," Talia said, turning towards the hobbit as the dwarves caught their breath. "I want you scout the location of the pack. Can you do that?"

The thought of doing so scared Bilbo, but after the last few days, anything seemed possible. When he looked into her eyes, he saw her faith in him, and his decision was made.

"Yes." He asserted, shifting his weight before handing his pack to Bofur with a nod. "Wait here."

The Company did as they were told, Thorin nodding his thanks to the hobbit before he took off around the corner. Bilbo raced across the rock, finding a small gap in the stone where he hoped he wouldn't be seen. The hobbit poked his head through the gap, and immediately he spotted the pack not too far from him. The Wargs were howling as they scoured the lands carefully for the Company. Bilbo watched as the leader, the Defiler himself, rode to the edge of the rock that his pack occupied, his prying eyes searching for his prey. When Azog's gaze swung in Bilbo's direction, the hobbit let out the slightest exhale and ducked his head, hoping to remain invisible to him.

Much to his luck, it had worked. The Pale Orc let out a low growl before urging his White Warg on, spurring the pack into motion and racing out of Bilbo's sight. But just as Bilbo began to sigh in relief, another growl caused his head to snap to the left. He knew the howls of Wargs well enough to know that this beast was not from the pack. Whatever he had heard was much closer to him than the Orcs were, which made his heart race. Bilbo pressed his back into the rock, shimmying alongside it to see what the creature was.

When Bilbo saw the culprit of the ominous noise, he wasn't sure if it's appearance helped him distinguish what it was more so than the noise had. The beast most closely resembled a bear, but it's massive size told Bilbo it was nothing of the sort. It supported itself on all fours on a rock a slight distance away, and Bilbo could tell that it too had been watching the Orcs. It made no sudden movements, breathing heavily as it's gaze remained on the Orcs. Then, it opened it's jaws to let out a deafening roar, one that was enough to make Bilbo scurry back to the Company without hesitation.

"How close is the pack?" Thorin asked, watching as the hobbit huffed and puffed after his running.

"Too close." He replied, stopping himself in the middle of the group with his hands on his hips. "Couple of leagues, no more. But that's not the worst of it."

"Have the Orcs picked up our scent?" Dwalin asked, turning to face the hobbit.

"Not yet, but they will do. We have another problem."

"Did they see you? They saw you." Gandalf's face fell upon his realization, assuming it to be true.

"No, that's not it."

"Good." The wizard mused, chuckling to the dwarves. "What did I tell you? Quite as a mouse. Excellent burglar material."

But as the dwarves began to agree with Gandalf, they completely overlooked the hobbit. Talia could practically feel his frustration. "Will you listen? Will you just listen?!" He attempted to shout over the dwarves, but to no avail.

Then, Talia silenced them with a hand, nodding to him. The dwarves snapped out of their stupor, turning to him as he looked to the Queen. "Thank you. I'm trying to tell you there is something else out there."

While most of the Company was completely in the dark, including their leader, Talia and the wizard exchanged a knowing glance.

"What form did it take? Like a bear?"

"Ye—" Bilbo paused, shifting his weight in surprise at Gandalf's accuracy. "Yes, but bigger, much bigger."

Everyone looked to the wizard in shock besides their leader. He was focused on Talia, who was staring thoughtfully into the distance. "You knew about this beast?" Bofur asked incredulously.

Gandalf met his eyes momentarily before they fell on Talia, choosing not reply. He turned away, needing a moment to think in order to properly weigh the risks.

"I say we double back." The hatted dwarf suggested, having no desire to meet this beast.

"We'll be run down by a pack of Orcs." Thorin shot back, feeding into the murmurs of the Company.

"Gandalf." Talia said, causing him to look slightly over his shoulder. The dwarves stopped their chatter upon the words of their Queen. "His abode is close. We can make it, and it'll be enough to shelter us."

Thorin turned to his wife. "What?"

However, Gandalf was already addressing the Company. "There is a house. It's not far from here, where we might take refuge."

"Whose house?" Thorin tilted his head in annoyance. The wizard was always vague right when they needed definitive answers. "Are they friend or foe?"

"Neither." Gandalf and Talia replied simultaneously, causing the dwarf and his Company to become even more confused. "He will help us... or he will kill us." The wizard continued, his statement blunt but accurate.

Thorin didn't like the odds, but it seemed as though this house was their only option. "What choice do we have?"

The creature's roar was enough to convince them.

"None."

Gandalf, Bilbo, and the dwarves ran out of the outcrop and across the plains, followed by both the Orcs and the beast hot on their trail. They raced through the forest with the Wargs right behind them, breaking the forest line mere minutes after they had entered it.

"This way! Quickly!"

Talia grabbed Bombur by the beard and pulled him along, spurring him into a run to the front of the Company. They were now out on the open plains, having no cover between themselves and the house that they ran towards. Gandalf urged them forward as he saw the massive bear break through the forest line, his paws shaking the ground beneath them.

"Into the house! Run!"

The beast roared, pursing the Company with even more speed than before. Talia spared a glance behind her, and nearly had half the mind to run towards it; it was him. However, she knew better than anyone that this side of him was much more dangerous, so she urged herself on and towards the house.

"Come on! Get inside!" Gandalf yelled as he pushed them through the gate, sending them to the front door. Talia did the same, exchanging a look with the wizard and glancing at the beast. His massive form was still thundering towards them at breakneck speed, much to their chagrin.

But as the Company rushed towards the house, their momentum sent them crashing into the door, bouncing right off and into each other's arms. Talia grumbled as she and Gandalf turned back to them, seeing their trouble with the lock on the entrance.

"Open the door!"

"Quickly!" Thorin agreed with the wizard, shoving his way through and forcing the bolt up. The dwarves and hobbit practically fell through the door, rushing to the other side to force it shut once Gandalf and Talia were through. The pair of them grimaced as the beast's head got caught in the door just as they tried to shut it, jaws snapping. It roared in anguish, and Talia whimpered at the scars across it's face. She could not allow her friend to be hurt any more than he already had, even if it was by the defense of her own kin.

"Come on, lads!" Dwalin pushed harder, the other dwarves reciprocating the action.

"NO!" Talia snapped, causing all of them to turn to her in shock. "Let me through!"

Thorin watched in shock as she forced her way into the crowd, standing right before their foe. Some of the dwarves tried to pull her back, but she smacked them away, reaching her own hand out to the beast.

"What is she doing?" He growled, looking to the wizard desperately.

But Gandalf could only look on as well, wondering to himself exactly what would occur during this encounter. Though he knew Talia and her friend shared a strong bond, he did not know if that bond extended to his bear-like form. Magic like this was unpredictable, but maybe Talia knew something he didn't about the beast; perhaps it would recognize her.

Upon seeing Talia, the beast clamped it's jaw shut, it's massive teeth tucked away from view. Her scent was familiar to it, and it's eyes shifted as it's memory was triggered. It's massive breath fanned over her as she took a tentative step closer, lowering her hand to it's snout. "You know me." She whispered to it, rubbing the ridge of it's nose endearingly as she traced over it's scars. "You know me."

The dwarves loosened their grip on the door slightly as they watched the encounter. They told themselves that it was because the beast was calmer, but in reality, their shock at Talia and her relationship with the beast had taken over. She put both her hands on it's snout and pulled it closer, resting her head on it as it leaned into her touch. "It is I, old friend."

Thorin exchanged a look of incredulity with Dwalin, both of them at a loss for words. Balin watched with Fili and Kili analytically, trying to make sense of the situation. Even after knowing her for almost two centuries, Talia Rue was still full of surprises.

Lifting her brow from his fur, she ran her fingers up and down his nose gently. "Rest now, my friend. Rest."

Much to the shock of the others, the beast turned from Talia and left, stomping off the way it had come. The Company peered from the crack in the door as the bear slumped against the wall of the house's borders, closing it's eyes and falling into a deep sleep.

"How on earth did you manage that, my dear?" Gandalf chuckled as the dwarves shut the door, still staring at Talia in awe.

"Never mind how." Gloin interjected in a pointed manner that was quite characteristic of him. "What is that thing?"

Before Talia could even open her mouth, Gandalf had the answer. "That is our host."

They all turned away from Talia to look at Gandalf in confusion, having expected any other answer but the one he had given.

"His name is Beorn." Gandalf began, raising a brow as he prepared his next words. "He's a Skin-Changer. Sometimes he's a huge black bear, sometimes he's a great strong man. The bear is unpredictable, but the man can be reasoned with. However, he is not over fond of dwarves."

"He was not over fond of dwarves." Talia corrected, tossing her pack on one of the massive chairs and removing her cloak.

"How do you know him?" Thorin asked, his eyes narrowing at her. Though Talia knew the question was genuine, she nearly smiled at his slight jealously.

"What I did not tell you all of my time in Dol Guldur was that I was not alone." She began, turning to face the Company once more. "Beorn was a fellow prisoner, one that offered me friendship during my—our—captivity. If he had not been in the cell right across mine, I would not be free. We never would have made it out of the fortress, if not for his unique ability."

Thorin gave a short nod, remembering their conversation in Bag End. Beorn had been the one to assist her escape a few short months ago, and for that, the dwarf knew he was forever indebted to the Skin-Changer.

"But what kind of beast is able to recognize it's prey and not kill it?" Dwalin asked, though he expressed the question in quite a rude nature.

"The kind that I spent over half of my life with and owe that life to!" Talia snapped back. "Beorn is a Skin-Changer, not a beast. Which means he is more human than not, and thus contains the self control required to avoid killing his friend. I am not prey to him."

"I always thought Skin-Changers were myth. Or a people passed into legend, I suppose." Fili mused.

"Why was he in captivity?" Kili asked, stepping closer to his aunt.

As much as Talia would like to tell the tale, she knew Beorn to be a very private and personal man. Had they not met in the darkest of places, she was doubtful that he would have opened up to her at all, let alone to fourteen strangers under the current circumstances.

"Beorn's story is his own. He will divulge it with you only if he deems you worthy of it." She said, addressing the entirety of the Company. Then, she elaborated on Fili's observation. "But his race is, and has always been, very real. And because of his origins, he is a force to be reckoned with. He can kill you with ease and without doubt, as we all saw moments ago." The dwarves took in her words as she advised them. "However, though I may have swayed his opinion on dwarves, he will certainly not be delighted with us infiltrating his home. Which is why, come morn, Gandalf and I will do the talking. Understood?"

The Company nodded, heeding the instruction within the firmness of the Queen's voice. But before Thorin could bark out another order, Dori proceeded to pull Ori away from his position near the door.

"Come away from there! It's not natural, none of it. It's obvious... he's under some dark spell."

Dori regretted the words as soon as he had said them. Talia stared at him so fiercely that the Company actually stepped away, backing into the wall further from her. They were so quiet that even the slightest of noises had become audible. Thorin watched her carefully from her side as she remained perfectly still. Though her gaze was intensely intimidating, she felt no anger for the dwarf. Instead, she recognized his ignorance, and merely wished to correct it.

Talia broke the stillness, reaching into her pack and producing a coin. She held it up so that Dori could see it, pinching it between her thumb and forefinger. "A Skin-Changer's ability to shift is as natural as a dwarf's love for gold." She twirled the coin through her fingers, watching as his eyes followed the movement. "And contains just as much dark magic as that love does. You forget of the own spells that you are under, Master Dwarf. Every single individual, no matter their race, has them."

Talia pocketed the coin, signaling the end of the conversation. She turned back to her pack, facing away from the dwarves as Gandalf corroborated her example.

"Don't be a fool. He's under no enchantment but his own." The wizard took off his hat, moving further into the home like Talia had. "Alright, now. Get some sleep, all of you. You'll be safe here tonight." He paused, watching the dwarves mill about as he mumbled under his breath. "I hope."

"We will." Talia interjected, being the only one that had heard the doubts of the wizard.

Gandalf gave her a look and hummed to himself, taking her word for it. "Well, you know Beorn better than I. Your judgement has always been trustworthy."

Talia nodded her thanks with a small smile, allowing the wizard to take his leave and set up his own sleeping arrangements. But before she reached Thorin's side to rest, a hesitant tap on her shoulder caused her to turn around.

"I am sorry for my doubt, my Queen." Dori said, bowing his head low. Talia could tell he truly meant the apology. "It was unwarranted of me."

"No. You deserve to question your surroundings, Dori." She smiled gently, tilting her head at his kind words. "Only this time, you didn't know any better. That is no fault of your own."

The elder dwarf bowed again, thanking her profusely and taking his leave. Though he was her senior by many years, he would always follow the Queen just the same as his King. When Talia was as respected amongst her ranks as she was, it was not difficult for him to do so, especially when she was more than deserving of that praise.

Talia walked over to Thorin, settling alongside him. Together, they shared the coziness of a Beorn-sized armchair, which was big enough to fit even more dwarves.

"Talia?"

"Yes?"

"Will he help us?"

Talia lifted her head from his chest, looking up at him with a smirk. "As long as you keep your snarky ass to yourself."

Thorin rolled his eyes, making her giggle slightly as he pretended to shove her away. "Sleep well."

"Sweet dreams, amrâlimê."