The Edge Of the Wild (Hobbit fanfic)

Chapter 16: Friend or Foe?

A week later

Ulaalsias POV

"How close is the pack?" My uncle came running back to us, his face full of panic.

"Too close. A couple of leagues, no more. But that's not the worst of it."

"Have the Wargs picked up our scent?" Gandalf grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him fiercely.

"Not yet. But they will do. We have another problem."

"Did they see you? They saw you." Gandalfs face burrowed into anger and worry.

My uncle sighed deeply. "No, that's not it."

"What did I tell you? Quiet as a mouse. Excellent burglar material." Everybody smiled at him. My uncle tried to speak again but nobody was listening to him.

"Will you listen?! Will you just..listen?" I shout-whispered to everyone. They all turned and stared at me in surprise and shock. I nodded at my uncle to continue.

"I'm trying to tell you there is something else out there." Gandalf immediately looked worried.

"What form did it take'? Like a bear?" Bilbo stared at Gandalf as if he had read his mind.

"Ye...Yes, but bigger. Much bigger."

"You knew about this beast?" Bofur shouted at Gandalf who started pacing backwards and forwards.

"I say we double back." I suggested but Thorin shook his head fiercely at me.

"And be run down by a pack of Orcs?"

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

"Whose house? Are they friend or foe?!" Thorin shouted at Gandalf.

"Neither. He will help us or...he Will kill us."

"What choice do we have?" A large roar made us all jump in panic.

"None. Come on! This way! Quickly!
Run!" I started sprinting away from the pounding of footsteps against the ground. Another roar pushed me to run faster towards a large cottage that was in the distance.

"To the house! Run!" Thorin shouted pushing us along to get to the cottage. Out of the forest burst a large, bear like creature, its teeth bared and eyes bloodthirsty.

"Come on, get inside. Quickly!" I screamed at everyone which urged them to run faster. The pressure of ten dwarfs behind me unexpectedly squashed me against the closed door.

"Push!" Gandalf shouted at us. The bear ran faster, desperately trying to reach us. The door gave way and almost everybody fell on top of me.

"Shut the door!!" Thorin screamed at me. I squeezed past everybody and managed to get the door shut it time along with Dwalin and Kili.

"What is...that?" Everybody huffed and puffed, eyes still wide in panic.

Gandalf brushed the dust off of his robes, sighing deeply. "That is our host. His name is Beorn. And he's a skin-changer. Sometimes he's a huge black bear. Sometimes he's a great strong man. The bear is unpredictable...but the man can be reasoned with. However...he is not overfond of Dwarves."

I dared to peek through the back in the door, watching the black bear trek into the woods.

"He's leaving." I was quickly grabbed by the scruff of my neck and pulled away.

"Come away from there. It's not natural. None of it. It's obvious. He's under some...dark spell."

"Don't be a fool." Gandalf snapped back at Thorin.
"He's under no enchantment but his own. All right, now get some sleep. All of you. You'll be safe here tonight. I hope."

I walked over and made myself a pile of hay to sleep on. Two arms instantaneously wrapped around my waist and pulled me closer. I turned my head round only to see Thorin behind me.

"I thought you would've been cold." I chuckled at him before drifting into a dreamless sleep.