The Undecided Title Of Sara Miller *Hobbit Fanfiction* (Thorin/OC)

Chapter 34: Teddy Bear Picnic

"You and Thorin both," she said, frowning. "What exactly did Tom tell you?"

"Simply that there is to be a battle against the Goblins in the near future."

"Nothing else?" she asked, looking down at the old dog.

Beorn snorted. "He told me the rest was none of my business, the cantankerous old dog." Surprised she crouched down to rub the dog's ears vigorously with approval.

"He's right," she said. "It is none of your business." Beorn huffed irratabley.

"And I suppose that's why the dwarves know nothing of it either," he said.

She flicked some pebbles in the dirt, not meeting his eyes. "They will know... eventually."

"I see," he said, folding his arms across his chest. She smiled faintly. The men of middle earth sure liked that pose. "But what of the battle," he insisted. "I want to join the hunt and I know others who would likely wish to join me." Sara pondered that for a moment as she continued to rub Tom's soft fur.

"You're supposed to be there," she said finally, pulling a few burs from the dog's coat. "I don't know about the others you want to bring, but I do know you will be there. You are a great asset and even kill the goblin commander." She searched her memory for the name. Though Gandalf had wanted to know about the tactics of the battle the name had never come up. "Bolg I think his name was."

"Bolg!" exclaimed Beorn. "You're sure?"

"Yes. Do you know him?"

"I know of him and he is no goblin. He is the spawn of that cur Azog." Tom growled indignantly. "Oh don't take it that way," said Beorn patting the dog's head. Tom looked only slightly mollified as Sara followed the giant to an oversized shed near the front gate.

"If Bolg is an orc what is he doing leading the goblins?" she asked, chewing her lip.

"I'm not sure." He opened the shed and picked up two large barrels, one under each arm. She followed him out the gate to the tree where he sat them down. "But," he said, prying the lids off the barrels before returning to the shed. "My kin have seen Azog and his kind frequent the goblins in the mountains. Perhaps they have made an alliance with each other; we already suspect they are in league with the necromancer in the old fortress." He handed her several wide mouth wooden bowls that she carried back to the tree.

"The orcs are in league with the necromancer," said Sara, laying the bowls in the grass. "Azog said his master was in Dol Guldur." Beorn nodded as he filled the large bowls with thick dark honey from the enormous jug he carried.

"Then we are right," he said. "Tell me little Sara, when does the battle happen?" He licked the honey from the rim of the jug before going to the shed once again, this time returning with several buckets of thick cream.

"I'm not sure of an exact date," she admitted, dipping a finger into the amber honey before popping it into her mouth. "A couple of weeks after Smaug dies," she said around the sticky digit.

"And when does that happen?"

"A few days after Durin's day, and before you ask me when that is, I'm not sure," she said wiping her finger on her pant leg. "Balin said mid to late October. He has to do some calculations to be sure but I can ask him tonight if you want, though it still wont give us an exact date for the battle. My guess would be in the first half of November."

"November," said Beorn. "Good that should give us enough time."

"Time for what?"

"To prepare, to gather, and to march," he said.