Giants Awoken

The next day I was exploring the castle, I had just stepped out onto a balcony when Elrond approached.

"Not with your companions?"

I shrugged.

"Just having a look around. I'm sure I wont be too terribly missed."

I'd been second guessing things all last night. I knew the Dwarves were slowly warming up to me and that Fili and Kili were happy to have me around but Thorin didn't want me here at all. On top of that I haven't really been much help so far, what do they even need me for? My hunger for adventure was really the only thing keeping me here, that and my desire to stick by Kili's side after missing him all these years.

"Truth is, Thorin doesn't even want me here, the only ones who seem genuinely happy to have me are Kili and Fili." I explained.

"Indeed? After all you've been through I can see that you are very resilient."

"You really believe that?"

Elrond nodded.

"Like I said before you are very welcome to stay here, if that is your wish." Elrond reminded me before walking away.

I looked out at the mountain side city. Honestly this wouldn't be a bad place to live, but I knew deep in my heart I couldn't stay.

I sighed and went looking for the Dwarves. I found them, although I was now wishing I hadn't. The Dwarves had found a fountain and had decided to take a dip. After seeing one too many bare asses I decided to go relax under a tree a few yards away.

Later that night we were all camped out in one of the many hallways inside the castle. Bombur was perched on a bench with a bowl of rolls. Bofur tossed him a sausage and seconds after catching it the bench beneath Bombur collapsed sending him tumbling to the floor. The Dwarves roared with laughter.

I smiled. I decided to go get some air. As I walked to the balcony I heard Gandalf and Elrond talking. Elrond was trying to talk Gandalf out of our quest. I felt a presence behind me and turned to see Thorin. I kept quiet and looked back out at the Wizard and Elf. Elrond brought up the fact that madness seems to run in Thorin's family. I knew Thorin heard it all, I could feel him still standing a couple feet behind me as Elrond questioned whether or not Thorin himself would also fall to the madness.

They walked away out of ear shot and I turned to Thorin. He had a look on his face I couldn't quite read but I knew what Elrond said had, had an effect on him.

"For what it's worth. I think your strong. If there is a madness, I believe you are strong enough to fight it."

With that I walked away not bothering to wait for a response.

When I got back to the group Kili grabbed my hand and pulled me away to another balcony somewhere far enough away that the Dwarves weren't likely to find us.

We both laid down on the balcony floor and stared up at the sky.

"I missed this." He said breaking the silence.

"Me too."

"I missed you."

I turned my head to look at him.

"I missed you too."

"After you disappeared I didn't know what to do. I honestly thought you had died. Things for me got dark for a while after that, until Fili finally pulled me out of it. I had lost all hope of ever seeing you again. That night at Baggins' house, when I saw you standing there, I...I've never been more relieved, never been happier to see anyone in my life! I honestly could have cried, but of course I couldn't let the lads see that, or I'd never hear the end of it."

I smiled and scootched closer to him until I was curled into his side. He maneuvered so his arms were around me holding me tight.

"I don't ever want to lose you again." Kili said playing with my hair.

"You wont."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

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We left the next morning just as the sun was beginning to rise.

Balin, who knew the paths best was leading us. To where, I didn't know.

We had left without Gandalf, but I assumed he was keeping Elrond and the others busy so we could slip away unnoticed. I'm sure he'll catch up with us later.

I took one last look back at Rivendell.

"Ashryn. I suggest you keep up." Thorin said noticing I had stopped moving.

With one last glance I turned and started walking, leaving behind my chance at a real home.

We walked all day to get to the mountains. My legs were screaming by nightfall, begging me not to take a step further, but I pressed on. As darkness set we entered the mountain range. I'd heard stories of Giants made of stone inhabiting these mountains, I prayed it was just that, a story.

Thunder and lightning shook the skies as we carefully edged along the narrow path on the side of the mountain.

Thorin yelled at us to hold on as the storm picked up.

The rain was making the rocks slick, I didn't even have time to register what was happening when I lost my footing.

Dwalin was quick to reach out and grab me as I let out a scream.

"Ashryn!" Kili yelled, as I dangled over the edge for a moment before Dwalin hauled me back up onto the path.

"I'm fine." I assured him, panic still clear in my voice. "Thanks." I said looking up at Dwalin.

Thorin yelled something about finding shelter which I thought was the best idea anyone's had on this entire trip!

Suddenly Dwalin started yelling.

"Look out!"

I blinked trying to see through the rain, and what I saw had me terrified. A giant rock was flying towards the side of the mountain we were on. Where the fuck did that even come from?!

We all pressed ourselves into the face of the mountain as the boulder smashed into it causing a bunch of smaller rocks to rain down on us.

"This is no thunder storm! It's a thunder battle!" Balin yelled.

I looked up and saw it, the Rock Giant, emerging from the side of the mountain across from us.

"Well bless me! The legends are true! Giants! Stone Giants!" Bofur cried as the Giant hurled another boulder, this time at a second Giant who had emerged behind us.

There was a lot of yelling from the Dwarves as we braced ourselves against the rocky face of the mountain.

Suddenly the path we were on split and started to move.

"What's happening?" Kili asked.

"Kili! Grab my hand!" Fili shouted as his brother and several others were separated from us.

Thorin pulled Fili back.

There was an echoing roar above us and we all looked up only to realize we were all balanced on the knees of another Stone Giant.

As our Giant stood another came and head butted it sending it stumbling back.

We all screamed as we slammed into the mountain. We took our chance and ran for the ledge, getting off the Giants knee as quickly as possible.

The Giants started fighting one another, they seemed to be moving in slow motion but that didn't make things any less terrifying.

The knee the others were on swung past us and Thorin yelled at the others to jump, but they didn't have enough time.

Things slowed down even more as I watched in horror while the Giant fell and slammed his knee into the side of the mountain.

"No!" Thorin yelled at the same time I screamed for Kili.

As the Giant pulled back we all watched helplessly as the ledge crumbled and fell.

"No! Kili!" Thorin yelled as he ran along the path to where the Giants knee had connected with the mountain side.

I almost cried in relief when I saw Kili and the others safe on the mountain ledge.

Next thing I know I'm being accidently shoved. I slipped and began to fall. I desperately reached out for something to grab onto and luckily I caught the edge of the path. I was too stunned and terrified to make a sound.

"Where's Ashryn?" Bofur asked.

They all seemed to realize at once that I was about to fall to my death.

"Get her!" Thorin yelled lunging for me.

My hands slipped and I screamed as I grabbed for the ledge.

The Dwarves were all yelling for me to grab their hands. I struggled to lift myself enough to do so. I looked to Kili and I'd never seen fear like that in anyone's eyes before.

Thorin saw another ledge and was quick to jump down onto it. He grabbed me and hauled me back up onto the path with Dwalin's help. As he tried to climb back up Thorin lost his footing. The Dwarves were quick to grab him and pull him to safety. Although I was much easier to pull up than he was.

"I thought we lost our Elf!" Dwalin exclaimed.

"She's been lost ever since she left home." Thorin said shooting me a glare. "She should never have come. She has no place amongst us."

I shrunk back into Kili's side.

"Are you alright?" He asked ignoring his uncle's harsh words.

I nodded still shaking.

"I'm fine."

Physically anyway.