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skittles1229 · 4 years

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Old Expectations Die Hard (Dashie x Reader Fanfic)

Chapter One: Weird Circumstances

You know your life is complicated when the friend you always complain to says "you never have a dull moment do you?" I sigh as the weight of the world seems to make it impossible to breath. You see recently things have been rough. I lost my job and my fiance all in the same day, that itself was an unbelievable story. I was so upset and strung out on thoughts of what to do that once i got home early from work i didn't notice the extra car in the driveway. i stepped into my home and my own floors felt as if they'd given way when i saw the guy i thought i'd be spending my life with in bed, with my sister... my sister and i hadn't been on good terms for a while and for a good reason! The drugs she took either made her unreliable and selfish or crazy and murderous. He, of course, pulled the its not what you think, id never hurt you, it was a mistake, and honestly i could write a book out of the excuses i heard in the time of two minutes but maybe another time. Needless to say i left. I never thought about going back and to be honest my sister looked more hurt then i was. I took a job in California a few weeks ago and moved in with my friend (BFF Name). They always seemed to know what to say and honestly i truly believe They knew me better then i know myself.

California gave me the biggest culture shock I've ever had. I came from Mississippi, the bible belt and the most rural part of the world. California was sooooo different then what i was use to. The weather is awesome. There's lots of jobs for technical people, at least until you're 45 and then you're considered ancient and you can't possibly know anything when some 23-year old out of Stanford tells you that they know it all. (a little bit of sarcasm there) It's a great place to start a new company, money is available as is talent. The risk of starting a company is lower since you can always find a new job The politics are insane, if you aren't towing the progressive party line you should just STFU. If you even once say that Trump has done something positive, or that Obama did something negative prepare for the wrath. Read the stuff behind the recently filed lawsuit against google for a taste of what it's like. Seriously, don't say a word. The state if structurally bankrupt, although the finances look good because so much stuff is off of the balance sheet. The public pension liability dwarfs the "good" part of the budget, and some day it is coming home to roost. Watch out when it does. The cost of living is absurd, really absurd. I'm not talking just a place to live but gas, electricity, haircuts, milk, pizza, you name it. The traffic is absurd too. (can you tell i like the word absurd) The public transit, although usually on time, is a mess. People are pigs, they throw trash everywhere, the cars are overcrowded almost all the time.

I've got to say, from how much it sounds like i hate California, i actually don't. Mainly because its so far away from my original family, leaving really helped me start to grow up and feel like maybe i was getting a hold of my life again. Only problem has been getting to my new job on time. I work as a barista and a waitress at a brunch place a good minute away from the apartment. The money is good, otherwise i wouldn't waste my time with the commute everyday. i keep being late to work because i still haven't adjusted to how terrible traffic is and so my boss was "nice" enough to switch me to the later shifts. The hours are long and boring because my shift starts in the middle of rush hour to the slowest hours at the end of the day meaning you have to find things to keep yourself busy with. the only good thing is, we can wear pretty much anything we want as long as its black. all i wear is dark colors so i didn't have to spend any extra money on a uniform and i didn't have to wear the same thing everyday. Today i decided i wear a v-neck shirt that with an emperor waist (body forming) with black skinny jeans and my regular converse. i decided against driving to work and decided it would be far smarter to catch a bus to the nearest destination. My (hair color) hair was done is a fishtail messy braid, i always liked this style because it made me look like i had a head full of hair when in reality i thought i was going bald.

My personality was a little odd, you see some days i felt like the beautiful nerd who has no confidence and wants to hide away in a hole. other days i feel like a model from Victoria secrets, of course those are the days i get the most tips. today was honestly a mutual day, where id rather be at home in my bed asleep, or listening to music. The bus finally stopped a block away from my job and i sighed obviously not wanting to go into work. surprisingly there wasn't nearly as many cars as there usually is around this time but i wasn't complaining. i walk in to see that most of the downstairs was empty but whoever was upstairs definitely had a loud mouth. i walk to the back in order to clock in and i bump into melany ( the girl im shifting with). "wow you actually got here on time! Maybe the boss's mood will cheer up." i huffed a little. "yea, i dont know why i thought id need a car in California, say whats with the low level of customers? its NEVER this slow." she looked at me in disdain, "some guys reserved the entire upstairs and we had to make this huge table out of all our tables up there, glad im not gonna be the one fixing it later." i rolled my eyes, i hated when a huge family came in and they just had to move everything around because little johnny wants the sit next to suzzie and suzzie HAS to sit by her parents bc she likes to throw her food on the floor, all fake names but a real situation ive been in before. "well have they at least been fed so that i only have to clean up after them?" she shook her head while hanging up her apron. "nope, they've only ordered their drinks and they are getting those onto trays now." so today was gonna be like every other day. "guess i better go help them take those upstairs then, have a good rest of your day." i walk away and slip on my apron, grabbed one of the trays of drinks while another waiter grabbed the rest of the drinks. Once i got upstairs, that's when i met him...

Chapter Two: Last Will and Testament

He was sitting on the far end of the long table of people laughing and joking. everyone seemed to be loud and all had their own inside jokes. This guy, he stuck out. i changed my attention to the task at hand, finishing this shift. i hated when people moved all the tables and seating around. all the waiters and waitresses have to go back behind them and look at the layout of the floor to put them all back exactly as they were before. it was a struggle and because of this nobody actually wanted that job so usually the manager gives it to her least favorite workers and i happened to be one. "who all had coke?" nobody answered me so one of the men bellowed out the same line and somehow was able to get a show of hands. i walked around handing out drinks, catching the lingering smell of strong liquor. i could tell by the end of tonight they would all be wasted and loud. please, just don't make more of a mess then you have to, i thought to myself. i had one drink left on my tray, "sweet tea?" the guy i saw before at the end of the table waved his hand and i dreaded going over there, i always seem to make a fool of myself when it matters.

i make my way slowly down the table with the tray under my arm and the tea in my hand. i lean over to sit his drink on the table.."here's your t-" *CRASH* while joking with one of his friends his elbow crashes into my hand sending the tea flying all over me and the cup crashing to the floor, thank god i wore black. he turned around and looked more horrified then i did. "i'm sorry! i'm so sorry!" his voice was deeper then i imagined it'd be. "no, it my fault i'm sorry ill get you a new one." i turned away to hide my embarrassment and walked away really just trying to get away from the situation. i could tell from the silence behind me that all eyes were on me. i ran to the back where the lockers were for the service. i went to the bathroom and stripped the sticky clothes off throwing them aside. i sat on the toilet trying to catch my breath, my social anxiety had struck me hard. a feeling of worthlessness and dread fell over me like a blanket. after the past few months i've had just one day without something terrible happening would mean the world to me. i heard a knock on the door, it was melany, she walked in with a towel from the kitchen. "hey, i heard what happen upstairs are you ok?" i covered my breast trying keep myself as unexposed as possible. "oh yea im fine, im just cold, and sticky, and... covered in tea." melany and i made eye contact and both laughed just to lift the dread in the air. "let me guess, all the guys are getting a kick out of watching me fumble again huh?" i said a little less concerned and more annoyed. she rolled her eyes "they are boys, they get a kick out of picking their own nose. we both slid to the floor beside each other, she hands me the damp towel. i get most of the sticky off as possible, throwing my hair up to make it look less clumped together by the sugar. "i have an extra black t shirt in my locker but i don't know how it will fit you. your breast are at least a size larger then mine." i shrugged my shoulders, "who cares ill make do. thanks for your help melany." she smiled her weird anime girl smile and ran to get the shirt from her locker.

ill have to admit, she was right about the size thing. it was far to small around the chest area but the rest fit fine. after the incident my boss stuck me down stairs wiping tables and sweeping the floor, i dont mind though because i get to experience the day coming to an end with a beautiful sunset over California. i secretly kept the the window to watch as the sun fell from the sky. the sky seemed to burn and darken while the clouds began to glow with the last bit of sunlight left. the sky filled up with burning Burgundy and faded orange and yellows, the tallest buildings seemed to reach for the skyline as if it were a sunflower moving to the last drip of sunlight. moving here had been hard, and this had become one of the things i looked forwards to. living in the apartment with my friend was nice, buts its not the same as coming home to someone you use to lay with every night. sleeping alone seemed so much colder and emptier then i remembered from childhood. my mother would be so disappointed in the way i turned out, in the places id gone and the decision to spend my life with someone who was most obviously the wrong one. she would have told me to slow down and to take my time, that growing up wasn't everything. she would have said love isn't something you just wake up and have, its something you make. i wasn't anywhere close to where i thought id be by now, and i could see that. it tears at my heart everyday, not being able to see her or any of my family. sometimes it felt as if they'd all died in the fire that night.

i suddenly heard a boom of voices making their way down the stairs, i hadn't realized how close to closing time it had become. all of them walk out stumbling and laughing at their own jokes, seems they all got a good bit of drinking in, all except one. The guy i ran into on accident seemed as sober as ever, designated driver i think, he was much taller now. he seemed muscular but in such a fitting way for his body. his teeth sparkle because their so white, his smile complimented him best. his high cheekbones made his chocolate brown eyes his best feature. His skin was glowing with a sweet honey hue and before i could notice that i was staring he turned his head. his eyes met mind before i could think twice and that's when i felt the heat rise to my cheeks. weather it be from embarrassment or silly school girl shyness i didn't know . i turned my face away but it was too late, i turned my face a little just to catch a glimpse of him before he made his way out of the door and that's when i noticed his cheeks had gone from a burnt caramel to a rosy color. i felt my body shiver at the thought that maybe, just maybe he found me as attractive as i found him. i shook the thought from head realizing they had began locking the place down. as i helped close up shop and wash dishes i couldn't help but to let my mine wander to all different kinds of thoughts, funny thing was they always fell back to him and his rosy cheeks. i couldn't help but smile as i felt my heart race at the thought of him, even though id made a fool of myself today i was glad i hadn't ruined my chances. Even if he'd never get with me or i wouldn't ever see him again, i'd still take it as a compliment that he even looked my way.

before long we were all outside laughing and talking about today. The manager locked the doors and said his goodbyes. i turn to walk towards the bus station when i see a man standing aside awkwardly between the restaurant and the parking lot. suddenly my eyes adjusted and once they did, the joyousness butterflies came back and the blush suddenly reappeared on my cheeks..

There are lots more chapter after this if you are interested you can find them here

https://my.w.tt/sosFRmianbb

#dashiegames #dashiexp #dashie x reader #fanfictions #fanfic #self insert #romance

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berjhawn · 7 years

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Elastic Heart - Part 3 - Trolls

Warnings: NOne really

Pairings: LOTR X OFC; Thranduil X OFC; Fili X OFC

Parts:

Prologue

Part 1 - An Unexpected Journey

Part 2 - The Beginning

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It is nighttime; Bofur has prepared a dinner of soup, and the dwarves are eating it. I stare at my bowl contemplating whether or not to eat it when I see Bilbo grab two bowls from Bofur to take to Fili and Kili. Before he leaves the camp I jump to my feet and jogging up to the hobbit say, “Here let me help you.” He gives me a thankful smile as he hands me a bowl. When we reach where Fili and Kili are watching the ponies I look forward to see that they are staring out into the dark and don’t take the soup from us when we hand it to them.

“What’s the matter?” Bilbo says as we follow their gaze toward the ponies.

“We’re supposed to be looking out for the ponies.” Kili says and I raise an eyebrow at him.

“Only we’ve encountered a slight problem.” Fili says and I take a deep breath instantly annoyed at their back and forth exclamations.

“We had sixteen.”

“Now there’s fourteen.”

We all examine the group of ponies and I raise an eyebrow as I say, “Daisy and Bungo are missing.” Bilbo shifts on his feet as he says, “Well, that’s not good. That is not good at all. Shouldn’t we tell Thorin?”

Fili instantly shakes his head as he says, “Uhh, no. Let’s not worry him. As our official burglar, we thought you might like to look into it.” Bilbo and I look around to see some trees recently uprooted and laying on the ground. “Well, uh...look, something big uprooted these trees.” Bilbo says and anger fills my body as I realize what it is.

“That was our thinking.” Kili says and I grit my teeth.

“Something very big, and possibly quite dangerous.” Bilbo says and I whisper out, “You have no idea.”

“Hey! There’s a light. Over here! Stay down.” Fili says as he and Kili rush out after the light. I mentally face palm as I instantly follow after them followed closely behind by Bilbo. As we quietly run through the forest toward the light Fili has seen, we hide behind a log and as Harsh laughter sounds from near the fire. I reach down and grab the hilt of my sword.

“What is it?” Bilbo asks in a whisper.

“Trolls.” Kili says as he and Fili run off toward the fire. I let out a groan of irritation as I follow after them once again.

Suddenly I turn to see a massive mountain troll walking toward the fire, carrying a pony under each arm. “He’s got Myrtle and Minty! I think they’re going to eat them, we have to do something.” Bilbo whisper yells out and I look over at the two dwarves and instantly want to smack them upside their heads.

“Yes; you should. Mountain trolls are slow and stupid, and you’re so small.” Kili says as he hides behind a tree.

“Nnno” Bilbo says as he holds the bowls of soup up in the air.

“They’ll never see you.” Kili says reassuringly.

“No, no, no...”

“It’s perfectly safe! We’ll be right behind you.”

“If you run into trouble, hoot twice like a barn owl, once like a brown owl.” Fili says as he and Kili push Bilbo toward the fire and take their bowls of soup from him. I follow closely behind him even after they disappear.

“Don’t worry Bilbo, I’m here if you need me.” I say as the two of us slowly stalk toward the Trolls. I listen as they groan about eating Mutton and debating on how they are going to eat the ponies. Out of the corner of my eyes I see Bilbo reach the ponies and then groan in annoyance that I hadn’t given him a knife to cut the ropes. One of the trolls is about to sneeze, and as he reaches behind him for his handkerchief, but accidentally grabs Bilbo instead, and sneezes all over him. He then realizes that he’s not holding any ordinary booger.

“Argh!!! Blimey! Bert! Bert! Look what’s come out of me ‘ooter! It’s got arms and legs and everything.” The other trolls gather around to look. I groan inwardly as I pull Ithildin from his sheathe.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know, but I don’t like the way it wriggles around!”

The Troll shakes Bilbo, covered in snot, off the napkin and onto the ground as another says, “What are you then? An oversized squirrel?”

“I’m a burglar-uhh, Hobbit.” Bilbo says as he almost puts his foot in his mouth.

“A BurglaHobbit?”

“Can we cook `im?

“We can try!” One of the trolls tries to grab Bilbo, but he dodges, only to be cornered by another.

“He wouldn’t make more than a mouthful, not when he’s skinned and boned!”

“Perhaps there’s more BurglarHobbits around these parts. Might be enough for a pie.”

“Grab him!”

“It’s too quick!” One of the trolls says as he once again tries to catch Bilbo. As the trolls try to catch Bilbo, he runs around trying to dodge them. Bert accidentally hits William with his ladle while trying to hit Bilbo. Bilbo is eventually caught by the legs by Tom, and held upside down in the air. “Come here, you little... Gotcha! Are there any more of you little fellas `iding where you shouldn’t?”

“Nope.” Bilbo lies and I smile at his courage.

“He’s lying.”

“No I’m not!” Bilbo says as he wriggles in the trolls grasp. I suddenly feel Kili standing next to me and I quickly glance over at him.

“Hold his toes over the fire. Make him squeal.” One of the trolls says and we both suddenly run out of the bushes and while I go for the Troll holding Bilbo; Kili cuts another in the leg, making him howl and fall down. After a few seconds I hear Kili say, “Drop him!”

“You what?” One of the trolls says and I smile as I drop my voice an octave and say, “You heard him Troll.” They all turn toward me and I watch as the leader smiles and says, “Well aren’t you a sight for sore eyes, look Bart it’s an elf.” My heart drops but I keep my composure as Kili says once again, “I said, drop him.”

As the troll throws Bilbo at Kili I lunge at them and then realize that I am soon joined by the rest of the Company as they come charging out of the bushes yelling and brandishing their weapons.

We begin fighting the trolls, hacking, slashing, and hammering their legs. I move like a gazelle as I stealthily slice away at each troll fighting side by side with the dwarves. Suddenly the trolls hold Bilbo up in the air by his arms and legs and we all stop fighting. “Bilbo!” Kili cries out as he tries to rush them only to be grabbed by Thorin as he yells out, “No!”

“Lay down your arms, or we’ll rip his off.” I toss Ithildin down and glance out of the corner of my eye to see Thorin look at Bilbo in frustration, then plant his sword in the ground. The others drop their swords and weapons as well. I try not to vomit in disgust as one of the trolls grabs me and places me in a burlap sack. I grit my teeth as I think about how I was going to be eaten by a troll. I watch as they tie Dwalin, Bofur, Dori, Ori, and Nori onto a spit; and begin to roast them over the fire.

The rest of us are tied up in sacks nearby. I look at the dwarves on the spit and decide that I had lived long enough anyway. I push myself to my feet and say, “Wait!” They all turned to me curiosity in their eyes. “You don’t want to eat them, dwarves are gamey. If you want something more delectable might I suggest you eat me?” I hear the dwarves whisper behind me but ignore them.

“Why would we eat you instead of them?” The troll I take as the youngest asks and I clear my face of any emotion as I say, “Elves are like a fine wine, we only get better the longer we are alive and I am centuries old.” The Trolls look at each other like they are contemplating my offer but my heart drops when they decide against it. “Then we’ll save you for last.”

“Never mind the seasoning; We ain’t got all night! Dawn ain’t far away, so let’s get a move on. I don’t fancy being turned to stone.” Suddenly Bilbo is standing next to me saying, “Wait! You are making a terrible mistake.”

“You can’t reason with them, they’re halfwits!” Dori says and I am about to say something when Bofur chimes in with, “Halfwits? What does that make us?” I bite my lip as I try not to laugh. Bilbo faces the trolls his head held high as he says, “Uh, I meant with the, uh, with, uh, with the seasoning.” I raise an eyebrow as I slowly look toward him. ‘What is he doing?’ I think to myself as one of the trolls that I now know as Bert says, “What about the seasoning?”

“Well have you smelt them? You’re going to need something stronger than sage before you plate this lot up.” I bury my face in my shoulder as I once again try to hold back my laughter as the dwarves yell at Bilbo calling him a traitor.

“What do you know about cooking dwarf?” The Troll named Tom says curiously.

“Shut up, and let the, uh, flurgaburburrahobbit talk.” Bert says as he turns his full attention to Bilbo.

“Uh, th-the secret to cooking dwarf is, um” I glance at Bilbo to see a look of pure astonishment on his face that he is thinking about what seasonings would go good with dwarf.

“Yes? Come on.” Bert says getting antsy.

“It’s, uh” I smile inwardly as I realize Bilbo is trying to stall till dawn.

“Tell us the secret.” Bert says and I sense irritation in his voice.

“Ye-yes, I’m telling you, the secret is … to skin them first!” Bilbo says getting ahead of himself.

“Tom, get me the filleting knife.” Bert says as he nudges his companion.

I hear the dwarves on the spike yell at Bilbo angrily and I roll my eyes. “What a load of rubbish! I’ve eaten plenty with their skins on. Scuff them, I say, boots and all.” Tom says and I happen to catch a glance of Gandalf slipping behind some trees nearby.

“`e’s right! Nothing wrong with a bit of raw dwarf! Nice and crunchy.” William says as he grabs Bombur, who is in a sack, and dangles him upside down over his mouth, about to eat him. I yell out “Stop!” As Bilbo yells out, “Not-not that one, he-he’s infected!”

“You what?” Tom says as he stares at Bilbo.

“Yeah, He’s got worms in his … tubes.” Bilbo says and I once again try not to laugh at Bilbo’s words. William drops Bombur back into the pile of Dwarves in disgust. “In-in fact they all have, they’re in-infested with parasites. It’s a terrible business; I wouldn’t risk it, I really wouldn’t.”

“Parasites, did he say parasites?” Oin says as Kili rebuts, “We don’t have parasites! You have parasites!” causing me and Bilbo to roll our eyes. The rest of the dwarves chime in about how they don’t have parasites and how Bilbo is a fool.

I glance back at Thorin and I see the suddenly realization hit him and he kicks Kili making all the dwarves understand and go along with it. All the dwarves begin proclaiming about how they’re “riddled” with parasites making me once again try not to laugh when Tom chimes in, “What would you have us do, then, let ‘em all go?” I nod as Bilbo says, “Well...”

“You think I don’t know what you’re up to? This little ferret is taking us for fools!” My mouth gapes open in shock as I hear Bilbo say, “Ferret?”

Suddenly Gandalf appears on top of a large rock above the clearing and yells out, “The dawn will take you all!”

“Who’s that?”

“No idea.”

“Can we eat `im too?”

Gandalf strikes the rock with his staff, splitting it in half, allowing the sunlight behind it to pour into the clearing. When the sunlight touches the trolls’ skin, they begin turning into stone amidst loud screams and howls of pain. Within seconds, there are three stone statues of trolls in the clearing. All the dwarves cheer for Gandalf. Of course, the dwarves on the spit, including Dwalin, still look uncomfortable. I smile at Bilbo as I say, “Good thinking there.”

It is morning; the dwarves have been freed from the spit and from the sacks. Gandalf walks to one of the troll statues and thumps it with his staff, with a pleased smile on his face. I suddenly notice that the dwarves are avoiding me and my stomach drops. “So you’re an Elf?” I hear Bilbo say and I smile softly as I say, “I was once, not anymore.”

“What happened if you don’t mind me asking?” He says and I notice that he’s not the only one listening. Fili, Kili, Dwalin, and Balin all are now even though their eyes are not on me I can still feel their curiosity hit me like a wave. I feel my throat close up and I force my eyes closed as I say, “I…” Suddenly my heart starts to race causing my breath to catch causing a feeling of not being able to breathe fill my body. I force my eyes to open as I say, “I need some air!”

As I walk away I hear Balin say, “Some histories are hard for some to remember young Bilbo. Give her some time and she’ll tell you though she may not know it yet.” Thorin suddenly orders us all to look for a cave and upon finding it we all walk in to see that it is full of treasures the trolls have been hoarding. Suddenly a putrid smell hits me making me scowl. “Oh, what’s that stench?!” Nori says causing Gandalf to reply, “It’s a troll hoard. Be careful what you touch.”

As they enter the cave, many of the dwarves cough and retch at the pungency. Inside, they find piles of gold coins and other treasure in caskets. I follow closely behind Thorin while he explores. I watch as he finds two swords covered in cobwebs. My heart catches as Gandalf approaches him. “These swords were not made by any troll.” Thorin says as he hands one sword to Gandalf and keeps the other one.

“Nor were they made by any smith among men.”

“They were made by my kin,” I say barely above a whisper. Gandalf draws the sword in his hand out of its sheath a few inches. “These were forged in Gondolin by the High Elves of the First Age.” I watch as Thorin, realizing that they are Elven swords, starts to put his away in disgust. “You could not wish for a finer blade.” Gandalf says and I walk away from them trying not to think about the Elf that made them.

“Let’s get out of this foul place. Come on, let’s go. Bofur! Gloin! Nori!” Thorin says as he quickly exits the cave. I follow closely behind him until the sunlight and fresh air hit my face making me relax. I sense something coming and turning to my company say, “Something’s coming!”

“Stay together! Hurry now. Arm yourselves.” Gandalf says as we all run off into the woods. Suddenly Radagast rides at full speed through the forest on his rabbit drawn sled. He pulls up short by the Company yelling, “Thieves! Fire! Murder!” I roll my eyes as Gandalf walks up to him and says, “Radagast! Radagast the Brown. Ah. What on earth are you doing here?”

“I was looking for you, Gandalf. Something’s wrong. Something’s terribly wrong.”

“Yes?”

Radagast opens his mouth to speak, but shuts it. He opens his mouth again, but closes it again. He has forgotten what he was going to say. “Oh, just give me a minute. Um, oh, I had a thought, and now I’ve lost it. It was, it was right there, on the tip of my tongue.” He curls up his tongue, and looks surprised. “Oh, it’s not a thought at all; it’s a silly old...” Gandalf pulls a stick insect out of Radagast’s mouth. “Stick insect!”

The dwarves and Bilbo look flustered. Radagast and Gandalf go off a few paces and speak privately. I sit down in the grass and taking a deep breath let the woods welcome me into their home. “Randír, do you mind if I join you?” I hear Bilbo say and I smile softly as I say, “Have a seat Bilbo.” As he sits beside me I find myself saying, “You asked me what happened to me and I ran. I am sorry; I just don’t like reliving my past.”

“That’s completely understandable.” He says and I smile softly. “My father was a great elven lord I do not know if you know his name but he was called, Celebrimbor.”

“I don’t think I’ve heard of him.” I feel my heart clench as I tell him about what had happened to my father and my past. As I do, I leave nothing out save for my history with Thranduil. When I am done talking I suddenly notice that all the dwarves including Thorin are listening to me. My heart drops. ‘Oh Valar what they must think of me now!’ I think to myself as I suddenly have the urge to run.

“Is that why you no longer claim to be an elf?” I hear Bilbo ask and I nod slowly as I say, “I have no right to be one. If I could, I’d be a mortal.”

“I wouldn’t say you have no right,” I smile softly at him as I say, “You’re a good friend Bilbo.” Suddenly, a howl is heard in the distance. “Was that a wolf? Are there wolves out there?”

“Wolves? No, that is not a wolf.” Bofur says as the color drains from every ones faces. From behind a nearby crag, a Warg appears; it leaps into the midst of the Company, knocking down one of the dwarves. Thorin strikes and kills it using Orcrist. Another Warg attacks from the other side; Kili shoots it with an arrow, bringing it down. However, it gets back up, only to be killed by Dwalin.

“Warg Scouts! Which means an Orc pack is not far behind.” I grab Ithildin and pulling him from his sheathe jump to my feet as Bilbo says, “Orc pack?”

“Who did you tell about your quest, beyond your kin?” Gandalf says angrily to Thorin who replies, “No one.”

“Who did you tell?”

“No one, I swear. What in Durin’s name is going on?”

“You are being hunted.” I grip tightly to Ithildin as Dwalin says, “We have to get out of here.”

“We can’t! We have no ponies; they bolted.” Ori says and I suddenly feel a whole fill my body.

“I’ll draw them off.” Radagast says to Gandalf and I raise an eyebrow.

“These are Gundabad Wargs; they will outrun you.”

“These are Rhosgobel Rabbits; I’d like to see them try.”

Gandalf watches from behind a rock as Radagast and the Wargs disappear in the distance before he says, “Come on!” The Company rushes across a rocky plain. In the distance, Radagast is being chased by the Wargs. One of them crashes while trying to catch him. As we run across the plain, we see the Wargs not too far from us, so we hide behind the rocks. “Stay together.” Gandalf says and nod as I place myself at the back of our company.

As we run, Radagast drives his sled beneath an overhanging projection of rock; he ducks, but the Orc on the Warg behind him gets knocked off. As the chase continues, Thorin stops behind a rock so that he is not seen by the Wargs. Ori starts to run out of the cover. “Ori, no! Come back!” Thorin yells and I grab him pulling him back behind cover.

“Come on! Quick!” Gandalf whisper yells and as the dwarves continue running, Thorin turns to Gandalf and says, “Where are you leading us?” Gandalf doesn’t answer. As the Warg scouts chase Radagast, one of them stops and scents the air. The dwarves take cover behind an outcropping of rock. The scout and his Warg appear on top of the outcropping, scenting the air. Thorin looks at Kili and nods; readying an arrow, Kili quickly steps out and shoots the Warg. The Warg and the Orc on it fall near the dwarves, and the dwarves kill them. The sounds of their fight carries quite far; the other Wargs and Orcs stop chasing Radagast as they hear roars and screams from behind the rocks.

The Warg scouts howl as they stop pursuing Radagast and begin pursuing the Company. “Move. Run!” Gandalf yells causing us to run through a grassy plain; Wargs begin to surround us from all sides. “This way! Quickly!” Gandalf yells again and I keep myself behind all of them to make sure no one is left behind. We run for a while longer, then halt in a clearing as we see Wargs on all sides. “There’s more coming!” Kili yells and I sheathe Ithildin and running up to Kili say, “Hand me your bow.” He gives me a quick glance before he reluctantly hands it over along with his quiver. I take a deep breath as I grab an arrow and pulling the bowstring back release it hitting an Orc in the face between his eyes.

“We’re surrounded!” Fili yells and I grit my teeth as I continue to shoot arrows at the oncoming Orcs and Wargs. “Where is Gandalf?” I hear Kili say and I momentarily turn from the Orcs to see that he is nowhere to be found. “He has abandoned us!” Dwalin yells as he ready’s his axe. The dwarves gather close to each other near the rock Gandalf disappeared by. As an Orc and his Warg approach, Ori shoots a rock at him with his slingshot, to no effect. Thorin pulls out his sword.

“Hold your ground!” Thorin yells before suddenly Gandalf pops up from a crack in the rock and yells, “This way, you fools!” “Come on, move! Quickly, all of you! Go, go, go!” Thorin yells as he ushers his kin into the cave one by one. As the Wargs approach, the dwarves and Bilbo slide into the large crack in the rock, sliding into a cave. Thorin kills a Warg that gets too close as I shoot another. All the sudden I hear Thorin yell, “Kili! Randír! Run!”

Throwing the quiver over my shoulder I run toward the cave closely behind Kili. Thorin, Kili, and I jump into the crack last. Just as the lead Orc and his Wargs reach the crack, an Elvish horn sounds, and a group of mounted Elves rush into the fray, shooting and spearing the Wargs and Orcs. The Company listens to the conflict from inside the crack. One of the orcs, shot by an arrow, falls into the cave. Thorin plucks out the arrow and examines its make.

“Elves.” Thorin says and my blood goes cold. There is a pathway at the end of the cave, leading away. “I cannot see where the pathway leads. Do we follow it or no?” Dwalin asks and Bofur quickly replies, “Follow it, of course!”

I look over at Gandalf as he says, “I think that would be wise.” The Company begins following the path. I hesitate for a moment before following after them. At times, the dwarves have difficulty going through. The pathway eventually opens out into an open area; there is a valley below, and in that valley is the city of Rivendell.

Will Continue in - Rivendell

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dthoursonpalmer · 7 years

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RAZE - 068 - To Make Friends

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We finally reached and passed those thick stone walls into Balunkraf. With a final glance behind me as I entered the high, narrow passage through stone and earth, I thought, once more, that I saw shapes in the trees, across road and bare rock where they’d been cut and burned far back from the walls.

The gate pulled closed behind us, driven by mighty chains, and when it hammered shut the sound shook the stones and left me in near-darkness. Ahead were the bodies of men and beasts and the wagons, groaning, and only a pale gray light at the end of a long, dark way. My steps seemed to draw me only further into this dark hell, toward the body-stink of animals, toward shuffling black shapes. A blast of cold, snowy air drafted around them and into my stinging nostrils, but I could go no faster, though I yearned to breathe free air again. I shuffled, and followed, and we broke the end of the long tunnel and I beheld Balunkraf.

High spires and looming shadows, appearing from the swirling snow, were dwarfed by the mountains behind, and about these the black shapes of the winged things, birds or spirits, dived and wheeled as if on a summer’s day. Rime coated smooth stone roads, and despite the weather, folk went to and fro at their business with high fur hats and cloaks lined in lambskin. Our company and the merchants we guarded were dwarfed by the crowds and size of the plaza before the great gates. Behind us, on the walls, soldiers in layers of leather, with long capes flying or wrapped over and over about them, glared down through slits in blued-iron helms, with slings and stones at their sides but waiting.

The rasakanova bellowed for us to form up. I hustled to my place beside Estevo near the back of the group, for we were new amongst the provka, though not the newest. The people of Balunkraf seemed heedless of the company of mercenaries, fearless of our spears and swords and the spikes on our shoulders. A man jostled into me in passing. I stumbled, caught my breath at a pulling pain from my wounds, regained my steps and dodged aside from a matron herding a dozen small white children straight through the company. One of the young ones stared at me and pointed and shouted a Kalughri word that sounded like “brown,” and the others joined him, staring and pointing. I hunkered into my scarves and found my place while a few of the other passers-by slowed and peered my way as the woman, tutting, led the children off.

Estevo elbowed me. “You’d guess they’ve never seen a Serehvani before.”

“Why would they? No Serehvani is stupid enough to come to a place like this.”

“Just you.”

“Me? I’m king idiot.”

He chuckled. Our line formed up more or less straight. Estevo made a sound as he took in the ragged mercenaries.

Before he could speak, I came to something like attention and faced ahead. “We’d be digging pits for a week if our line looked like this back in Onappa-ka.”

“At best. Cleaning pits is more like it.”

“That was just you. You already smelled like shit, so why not?”

“If they had needed someone to make the pits smell better, they’d have had you stand next to them with your pants off.”

Ivanyaska rode past, swatting at us with the flat of her scabbarded sword, quieting us. Meanwhile, the rasakanova went to the head of our troupe, some fifty of us—or forty-five, rather, after the green woman’s assault—and stood on his ghanavocha’s saddle. With his head bald and bare to the cold and his mustache blowing on the icy wind, he shouted out orders and rules for our time in Balunkraf. We each lined up for pay before our tevka. Ivanyaska pressed a few jobn into my hand, flat silver oblongs.

“You heard the rasakanova,” she said, catching my gaze as she gave me my earnings. “Report daily. If you want a job when we leave, you’re to be here when we leave.”

“Yes, tevka.” She released the wages and I stood by while she repeated the conversation with Estevo.

With him done, we did what all working men do upon receiving our pay—we set out to find the nearest bar, in that land called a tea-room. With our heads lowered against the snow, we picked a street and started; perhaps we should have waited for the rest of Ivanyaska’s provka, but they cared little for us, and we for them. We were outlanders, I too brown and Estevo too much himself.

“Habra,” he mispronounced as he walked at my side, before switching to Lonireilan. “What did she say?”

I watched the way ahead through snow-frosted brows. “That you’re to give me half your money.”

“When cathelles fart gold dust.”

“She said…” I stopped in my tracks, remembering. Ulaghshak district. Ulaghshak meant “Hawk’s House,” so it must be high up, further up the mountain slope. I had a job to do. And it was likely that Vasily Avosha Brobov would be trying to find me, and soon. The idea set my guts to twisting and writhing. With a deep breath, I looked up at Estevo. “She just said to be back if you wanted a job. Ask after her every day.”

He made a face. “Look, the bars are over there somewhere. I think.”

“I know. I need the healer.”

“Again?”

“Just a check, first.”

“No doctor as good as a bottle. Come on. I’m parched and I’m cold and all this miserable phrik hole has going for it is the tea and liquor.”

“I can’t.” I started away, cutting across the wind and waving at him. “You go on.” An idea struck me. “Go find the others. Make friends.”

“They don’t want to be our friends.”

I stomped back to him in the roadway. We moved to one side as a line of wagons came down one way and three children ran past, happy as if the snow was sunshine and dandelion seeds. They shouted “Brown men!” again and giggled and spun and ran on.

Taking Estevo’s shoulder, I seized all but one of the jobn from my pocket and thrust them into his hands. He stared at them in confusion and then at me.

“Now, they’ll want to be our friends.” I turned again, but this time he caught me and spun me back.

There was a time he couldn’t have done that, but I was weak with wounds, overtired from marching. It was difficult to recall a time I hadn’t been sick and tired and weak. I was suddenly very weary, standing there in the swirling snow in a strange stone street like a canyon in a country farther from home than I’d ever imagined. But where was home? Nowhere. It had been taken, and I’d burned the ruins in my folly.

He spun me back and leaned in close, to whisper over the wind whistling between those tall stone buildings.

“What is going on?”

I stared at him. Behind him in the road, Kalughnoran people stared at us unabashedly. Two foreigners, standing out like silver coins at a copper dice game. “There’s going to be a new rasakanova,” I said. “Not now, but soon. And we need friends when that happens.”

He stared as if about to question me, as if I was a fool. Then, his face, his dark eyes and sleek brows changed and grew harder, more intent. He nodded and clapped my shoulder, sending up a puff of snow.

“I make friends. You watch our backs?”

“That’s it,” I said. “You and me.”

“And hang the rest.” He turned and made for the plaza and the other provka. I watched him go, then went down my sidestreet to find the Ulaghshak districk, and the healer’s house, and Ivanyaska’s friend Gorbeva.

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