The Beast

It's been a few days since the battle with Azog and we've been on the move ever since, heading for Erebor. We quickly discovered Azog and his Wargs had picked up on our trial and were closing in on us.

I was sent to do some scouting, if I was going to help the Dwarves take back Erebor from Smaug I needed to hone my skills as a burglar of sorts, at least that's what Gandalf said.

I was crouched behind some rocks when I caught sight of the Warg pack that had been tracking us. Azog and his white Warg leading the way. I quickly ran back to the Dwarves to report what I had seen. As I came out from behind the rocks I spotted another creature to my left. It was massive, and looked to be more bear than anything, but not quite all bear at the same time. It looked as though it was a cross between a bear and a werewolf with it's bear genes being most dominant. It's roar echoed through the mountain range as I ran away.

"How close is the pack?" Thorin asked, as he and Dwalin stepped out onto the path to meet me.

"Closer than I'd like. A couple leagues away maybe but no more than that. But that's not the worst of it." I said as I skidded to a stop.

"Have the Wargs picked up our scent?" Dwalin asked.

"Doesn't look like it, but it won't be long before they do. Right now we have another problem."

"Did they see you?" Gandalf questioned. "They saw you!"

"No, I stayed well hidden."

"What did I tell you, quiet as a mouse!" Gandalf bragged about my growing skills. "Excellent burglar material!"

"No, would you just listen!" I snapped getting everyone's attention. "There is something else out there!"

"What form did it take?" Gandalf asked suddenly concerned. "Like a bear?"

I sighed in relief at finally being heard.

"Ye...what? How did you...nevermind! Yes like a bear but way bigger!"

"You knew about this beast?" Bofur asked.

Gandalf turned and walked a few steps away.

"I say we turn back." Bofur offered.

"And be run down by a pack of Orcs?" Thorin challenged.

The Dwarves started going back and fourth and only stopped when Gandalf spoke.

"There is a house, it's not far from here, where we might take refuge."

"Who's house? Are they friend or foe?" Thorin asked sounding skeptical.

"Neither." Gandalf replied honestly. "He will help us or...he will kill us."

Oh yeah cuz that sounds like a great plan!

"What choice do we have?" Thorin questioned.

There was a roar in the distance.

"None."

So off we ran, towards the house of someone who would either help us or murder us. We didn't slow down even for a second.

We made it to a forest and by then Azog was on our trail. Everyone skidded to a stop when the creature roared once again.

"This way! Quickly!" Gandalf shouted.

We resumed sprinting in the direction he was leading.

"To the house! Run!"

The house was now in sight. I heard huffing and puffing beside me and was surprised to see Bombur passing us all, moving faster than I'd ever seen him move before.

Bombur was the first to slam into and bounce off the door to the house, followed by Kili and Fili.

The damn thing was stuck shut!

I heard a roar and looked back to see the beast burst out of the trees. Well fuck!

The Dwarves were pounding away at the door, but it wouldn't budge. Thorin shoved past them and lifted a latch every single one of us had some how missed and pushed the door open. We flooded in and began closing the doors just as the beast arrived. It stuck it's giant head between the doors snapping it's mighty jaws.

Kili and Dori yelled at everyone to help push the doors shut.

Between the 14 of us we managed to shove the beast away and close and latch the doors. Everyone sighed in relief.

"What is that?!" Ori asked looking terrified and in disbelief of what he just saw.

"That is our host." Gandalf replied.

We all stared at him like he was crazy. He looked anywhere but at us.

"His name is Beorn." He continued. "And he's a Skin-Changer. Sometimes he's a huge black bear." He explained walking further into the house. "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 heard Beorn let out a growl.

"He's leaving." Ori said, ear pressed to the door.

"Come away from there!" Dori said pulling him back. "It's not natural! None of it! It's obvious. He's under some dark spell."

"Don't be a fool." Gandalf snapped lightly. "He's under no enchantment but his own. Alright, now get some sleep. All of you. You'll be safe here tonight. I hope." He mumbled the last part but I still heard him.

We all looked around. The front of the house was a sort of barn area that housed two long horned cows, and a few goats on the other end was a kitchen and dining room.

Kili steered me to a corner away from the others and we settled in for the night.

I was a little surprised at his actions. Kili had been acting weird since the battle with Azog. He rarely took his eyes off me but also hadn't said much.

We laid side by side in silence until I couldn't take it anymore. I rolled onto my side propping my head up on my hand.

"Talk to me." I demanded quietly.

"What?"

"You've hardly said a word to me since we fought Azog. What's wrong?"

Kili sighed and rolled over facing away from me.

"It's nothing."

"Kili, I know you. It's not nothing."

He stayed silent.

"Maybe I'll go talk to Fili then. One quick look with these puppy eyes and I can get anything out of him." I said.

"Good luck, Fili doesn't know shit." He mumbled.

I sighed. What is with him?!

"Come on Kili, we used to tell each other everything! Why start keeping secrets now?"

He groaned and rolled back over facing me. He looked tired, and a little sad.

"You have no idea do you? You have no idea the fear that went through me when you put yourself between Thorin and Azog. When Azog turned his focus on you. You promised me Ashryn! You promised I wouldn't lose you again and you go and throw yourself into some suicide mission!"

"Kili, Thorin was dying! What was I supposed to do?!"

"I know, and I will forever be grateful you saved him. He's my uncle I never wanted to watch him die but you could have gotten yourself killed along side him! Then I would have lost both of you!"

I sighed, he was scared, scared of watching me die, of losing me all over again.

"Kili, I'm sorry. I didn't know it would freak you out so much."

"Of course it freaked me out, Ashryn! I..."

"You what?"

Kili just looked at me for a moment then leaned over and pressed his lips to mine.

I was stunned but apparently not too stunned to kiss back.

He pulled away, brushing a piece of my hair out of my face.

"I love you Ashryn. I have since we were kids."

I grinned at him.

"Kili. I love you to."

He smiled at me and kissed me again. I scootched closer and put my head on his chest while he put his arms around me.

In the darkness I heard someone let out a very dramatic sigh.

"Finally!" Fili whispered loud enough for us to hear.

I realized he was closer than we though and I swung my leg out to kick him.

"Ow!"

"Eavesdropper." I mumbled. 

Fili huffed out a laugh and we all closed our eyes letting sleep take over.

Something woke me in the middle of the night. I instinctively pulled Gollum's ring out of my pocket. Suddenly I could hear whispering in Black Speech, the language of the Orcs. I didn't understand a word but it was enough to creep me out, so I stuffed the ring back in my pocket and tried to fall back asleep.