Run It Back Again (Part 1)

Chapter 20

Thorin was still breathing, but he was hurt pretty bad.  Placing my hand on his side, I noticed a few ribs were out of place.  Nodding at Skyrena, she came up and muttered a simple spell she had learned from the elves, which would mend bones without having to cut into the person.  This spell was the first one any of them were to learn before they trained because it helped to heal in the middle of the fight, at least that's what Legolas had told me.  I stepped back and waited.  Before long, his eyes fluttered open.  As he got to his feet, he looked at Bilbo, clutching his side.

"You!  You foolish hobbit!  What were you thinking?!?  You could have been killed!  You shouldn't have come, like I said..."  I stepped forward, ready to protest, but he brushed past me and hugged Bilbo.  "I've never been so wrong in all my life!"  He looked over at me and released Bilbo.  "Why did you fight?  You could have been killed.  You haven't even fully recovered!"  I swallowed hard as I lowered my head.

"I couldn't just stand by and watch them win.  I just...  I was just protecting you and Bilbo.  Besides, Skyrena needed my help."  He smiled a little as he nodded.

"How did you...?  Where did you...?"  I sighed.

"I drained the energy from the fire to help give me the stregth to fight.  I needed it..."  He nodded as he pulled me into a hug.

"I'm just glad you're safe."  Balin came up and shook his head.

"Both Era and Skyrena are wounded, Thorin.  We need to rest and tend to them.  The last thing we need is a repeat of Rivendell."  Thorin nodded at Balin and turned to Skyrena.

"Are you okay?"  She looked down, and I noticed her side was bleeding again.

"I'll be fine...  I don't have the energy to try to heal myself, so I'll just bind it."  He hugged her and kissed her forehead.

"I thought I told you not to scare me again!  When I saw you hit the ground...  I thought we were going to lose you!"  She rested her head on his shoulder and trembled.

"I'm sorry, Thorin.  I had to do something...  They would have killed you all!"  He looked down at her and smiled.

"I'm glad you did, but that doesn't mean that you can go rushing into battle like that."  I looked down and blushed.

Everything Balin had said about Thorin before, when I was younger, was true.  He loved Skyrena more than anything and tended to worry about her all the time.  A part of me began to wonder if anyone would ever love me the same way he loved Skyrena.

"Hey, what's that?"  I turned and looked out onto the horizon.  A dark shape broke the beautiful sun rise.  My jaw dropped.

"It's the Lonely Mountain!"  The others cheered as they looked upon it.  Thorin rested a hand on Skyrena's shoulder.

"It's home..."  That was the place where I spent very little of my childhood.  I couldn't help but smile.

"We're almost there!"  Thorin hung his head as he reached for his map.

"It's too bad we didn't get this..."  He frowned.  "Where's the map?!?"  Gandalf chuckled as he held it up.

"I'm sorry, Thorin.  I forgot to tell you that I took the liberty of showing it to Lord Elrond back in Rivendell so he could translate it and help us."  He handed the map to Thorin and glanced at Skyrena and I.  "After all, you were a little busy with the well being of the members of your company."  Thorin looked down at the map and smiled.

"Durin's day...  There's a hidden doorway, and the keyhole will only be revealed on Durin's day."  He smiled up at Gandalf.  "Thank you, my friend."  I smiled and looked back towards the mountain.  Everyone seemed so happy...

"Hey, Era...?"  I turned and saw Fili coming towards me.  "It's beautiful, isn't it?"  I nodded.

"One of the most beautiful places I've ever seen."

I worked hard, trying to bind Skyrena's side as Bilbo scouted out ahead.  Since I was injured as well, Thorin insisted I stayed close to the group, afraid the scent of my blood would attract the Orcs.  My shoulder looked as though it had been grated like cheese, but it stopped bleeding a while ago.  I worked while Thorin had his back to us, not wanting to worry him any further.  As soon as her shoulder was bound, she smiled at me.

"Thank you, Era..."  Bilbo came running.

"We have a problem..."  Gandalf frowned.

"Did they see you?"  Bilbo shook his head, doubled over to catch his breath.  "What did I tell you?  Quiet as a mouse..."  Bilbo finally stood up straight.

"There is something else out there!"  I trembled slightly at the fear in his voice.  Gandalf froze.

"What form did it take?  Was it that of a bear?"  Bilbo frowned and nodded.  While the others started to argue, I watch Gandalf, who seemed to be processing what was happening.  Then, he spoke.  "There is a house nearby.  If we can reach it, we will be safe."  Thorin cast a nervous glance at Skyrena before he responded.

"What other choice do we have?"  A roar startled us all.  Even Gandalf seemed afraid.

"None..."  We all took off, running as fast as possible.  I found myself towards the back as we ran down the mountain, trying to make it to the valley at the bottom of the mountain.  The thunder of paws followed closely behind me.  This urged my steps forward, making me run as fast as I could.  When we reached halfway across the field, the bear emerged from the woods and roared at us.  I stopped and turned.  Thorin stopped as well.

"Come on!  We have to reach the house!"  I shook my head, watching the bear charge.  Era came up beside me and motioned for him to go.

"You go...  I'll buy you guys some time..."  He took off as we shifted into bears, equal in size to the one charging at us.

At first, the bear didn't even notice.  Then, when it reached us, it stood on its hind legs and roared at me.  We stood and mimicked its roar in perfect unison.  It lowered itself back to the ground and started to sniff me.  I growled and swatted at it with my paw.  When it sniffed Skyrena, she gave him the same response.  So, it backed away before I hit it and took off for the woods.