It has been a few days since we just made it out alive after our battle with Azog. It has been a few days since Kili and I shared our first kiss and in those few days everything has felt so much better, the burden of being hunted no long weighs over us, Thorin and Bilbo are getting along and we don't have any creature hunting us down...that was until today.

"How close is the pack?" Thorin asked Bilbo once he returned. "Too close. A couple of leagues, no more. But that's not the worst of it." "Did they see you?" Gandalf said from behind Bilbo. "No, that's not it." Bilbo looked distressed but no one was hearing him. "Well they didn't see you. Excellent burglar material." All of the dwarves cheered but Bilbo grew frustrated, clearly something else is wrong.

"Will you just listen to me? I'm trying to tell you there is something else out there." He gestured with his arms to behind him where he came from. "What form did it take? Like a bear?" Asked Gandalf. "Y-Yes. But much bigger?" Bilbos face twisted in confusion yet surprise that Gandalf knew exactly what he saw.

The dwarves began mumbling, putting together a plan on what we should do. Gandalf was lost in thought. "There is a house, it's not far from here. We could take refuge." suggested Gandalf. "Who's house? Friend of foe?" Thorin questioned with a concerned expression. "Neither. He will help us... or he will kill us." A loud growl was heard in the distance. "What chance do we have?" I spoke up from the crowd. Gandalf turned to me. "None." He shrugged, and we were off.

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It's practically a routine now as we were running through forests and fields. The growling was not far behind us, but it sounded nothing like a warg, like something bigger. "To the house!" Gandalf gestured to a large cottage up ahead of us. Everything seemed much larger, larger doors, windows, flowers, everything. This was clearly no house to a little hobbit or the grand kingdom of a dwarf.

We all watched in shock as Bombur over took all of us one by one. Some cheered him on as we've never seen him run so fast before but some gawked as they also have never seen him run so fast before, even with pots and pans attached to his sack adding on an incredible amount of weight. I couldn't help but suppress a smile as he ran faster than ever before. Shows what fear can do to a man.

We ran through the gate but the door was not opening. Through the trees behind a giant beast appeared and he was heading straight for us, it was like a bear but the size was completely out of proportion, it was huge and extremely strong as it began running straight at us with a loud roar.

The dwarves tried to break down the door but they found it very difficult as it was much thicker but Thorin pushed past the dwarves, simply pulled a latch and we were in. Well that was easy. I had just about slipped through the closing gap of the door before the dwarves tried to barricade it closed by pressed themselves up against the door.

The giant bear like beast was able to get its head into the door just before we tried to shut it. After lots of grunting and pushing we finally managed to shut it with the beast on the other side. "What was that?" I asked completely out of breath. "That is our host, lady Baggins. His name is Beorn. He is a skin-changer," Gandalf walked through the house "Sometimes, he is a great, strong man and other times he is a big black bear, but the man can be reasoned with."

I starred a Gandalf before nonchalantly shrugging with my hands on my hips "Well he sounds like a lovely guy." I turned and wondered through the house looking at huge furniture around me, even the chairs would require me to need a leg up to hoist myself onto. "However," Gandalf continued "He is not overfond of dwarves." From the other side of the door we could hear Beorn leave and everyone could finally relax. "Alright all of you get some sleep. You'll be safe here tonight."

We all made beds on the floor of hay which had the occasional goat wondering around but I managed to shift away from them into my own corner, surrounded by bails of hay, it was surprisingly reasonably comfortable, I even managed to close my eyes for a few seconds before I heard someone settle down beside me. I rolled over, propped up on my elbow, to see Kili laying there with a hand behind his head, trying to remain quiet.

His eyes wondered around before he looked down at me and saw that I was wide awake and looking up at him. "Oh. Sorry, (Y/N), I didn't mean to wake you." He whispered but by the dwarves concerning snoring, they were in a deep sleep. "You didn't," I shook my head "So, cant sleep?" "No, I suppose not. How do you feel?" Kili asked whilst looking my upper waist where I hurt myself back in Goblin town. "They're...okay. They do still hurt but only when I touch them." Kili moved closer to me and wrapped an arm around my waist. "Try and get some sleep, (Y/N). Okay?"

I got comfortable under my cloak and buried my head in Kilis chest, the simple we consider normal now still makes butterflies soar in my stomach and bring a huge grin to my face. "I will." I mumbled. I fell asleep to Kili's light breathing throughout the night and the beating of his heart. I was finally able to get some sleep that night for the first time in days, it felt great.

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Everyone had woken up and at the table ready to eat some food. For days I have been longing for some decent food and not whatever food was left between the dwarves. I sat next Kili, without asking I raked my fingers through his hair to act as a brush and give him a small braid under his hair to entertain myself whilst Beorn poured everyone's milk, Kili's hair was surprisingly soft and was in ideal health, it was certainly every girls dream hair even if it belonged to one of a dwarves.

And Beorn, on the other hand, was nothing like I though he'd be, realistically he's really polite once he got over the fact dwarves have slept over in his house uninvited and provided us all with a nutritional breakfast. He was around six feet tall, with a strong, lean build with a dark fur covering his body. His eyes were small and were a mossy hazel green, and I couldn't help but occasionally stare at his hooves for feet. Beorn was halfway through pouring Gloin cup of milk on the other side of the table from me before Bilbo asked him a question.

"Are there others like you?" Bilbo asked across the table from me. "Once there were many." He walked away and faced his back at us. "And now?" "Now there is only one." Bilbo looked down at his mug, feeling rude and guilty that he asked. Gandalf and Beorn discussed our plans of going to Mirkwood but I didn't listen to the entire situation and neither did Bilbo, worried he'd say something offensive again.

"Your hairs really nice." I said whilst brushing through his wavy hair. "Ha, thanks. Although," He looked at me "Yours is nicer." I scoffed. "Thanks." I looked up from my lap and Kili was already looking at me. I smiled. "What?" "Nothing." He held his head up on his hand and smiled at me. I leaned over to him and kissed him on the lips.

"Oh give it up you lovebirds. I'm trying to eat." Dwalin was next to me rolling his eyes, clutching his spoon so hard I think it might have snapped. I blushed. "Oops sorry." I chuckled. "Whatever, just don't do it at breakfast, or dinner." He scoffed and turned away. Looks like someone doesn't like early mornings.

"I don't like dwarves," Beorn stood up "They're greedy. And blind to the lives of those they deem lesser than their own." He picked up a mouse that Bofur had just shooed of his arm. He looked at the mouse which he had his large hand wrapped around Oh God. Please don't do what I think your about to do. "But Orcs I hate more."

——————

We all hoisted ourselves onto the ponies that Beorn gave us. I strapped my bags to the ponies saddle, checked the before and jumping on. All the other dwarves hopped onto their ponies and turned to Beorn. "Go now while you have the light. Your hunters are not far behind." Beorn bid us goodbye and we made our way to Mirkwood. And we're back on the road and leaving a new ally behind. Maybe this next half of the journey will be a bit smoother.

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We finally made it. There was a line. Beyond that line was Mirkwood, no life to be seen and it felt as if a disease was held within. We all jumped off our ponies and and let them back to their master. "No orcs, we must have luck on our side." Dwalin said. Bilbo walked towards the forest and inspected it before spinning around with a hand up to his chin. "This forest feels...sick. As if a disease lies upon it."

I turned to Gandalf, I don't doubt that a disease lies upon that forest, it looks like an evil spell has been cursed over the land. "Gandalf, is there no way around?" I asked. "Not unless we go 200 miles north. Or twice that distance south, young (Y/N)"

Gandalf walked not far into the forest before running back out and we watched him wonder around whilst turning to each other, passing a bit of time. "Not my horse I need it!" Gandalf came running out the forest with desperation on his face. "Your leaving us?" Bilbo followed him to his horse. "I would not need to unless I had to." He mounted his horse and rode away. "Remember, stay on the path. You loose it and you may never find it again!"

Well, we just lost our wizard, yet again. "Come on," Thorin shrugged off our disappearing wizard led us into the forest "We must reach the mountain before the sun sets on Durin's day." I held back until Bilbo and I were at the back. "I have a bad feeling out this." I stated. "As do I, (Y/N). As do I."