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IT HAD BEEN THREE MONTHS SINCE MARISTELA joined the Company of Thorin Oakenshield. She had bonds with each member of the Company and they had been preparing for whatever they may face once they reached Erebor. Maristela had become very close with Fíli, the two often sparring together or simply admiring the stars by each others side. Maristela wouldn't call it love, it was too soon on her behalf but she certainly adore the young Dwarf Prince who never strayed too far from her side. Thorin and Kíli knew that Fíli was falling in love with the Elleth and both were very happy for him knowing she was worthy.
At this current moment, it's night time and Bilbo is peeking over some rocks on a high ledge watching as Azog upon a brown Warg and his Warg Scouts run along a ridgeline not too far away from where he was perched. Suddenly, Bilbo hears a snarl from the side and ducks behind the rocks, he peeks out and sees a large bear watching Azog from another pile of rocks, snarling softly. Bilbo sneaks away and makes his way down the rocks to where the Dwarves, Maristela, and Gandalf were waiting to hear Bilbo's spy report. He took immediate notice of Maristela giving Kíli some more tips on tricks regarding his bow and arrows despite her speciality being a sword.
"How close is the pack?" Dwalin asked the moment Bilbo stepped into their view, the Company's attention turning to the large Dwarf and small Hobbit. "Too close. A couplr of leagues, no more, but that is not the worst of it," Bilbo replied to him instantly as Fíli stood beside Maristela. "Have the Wargs picked up our scent?" Dwalin questioned further. "Not yet, but they will; we have another problem," Bilbo responded causing the Company to tense up in concern. "Did they see you? They saw you!" Gandalf questioned him with wide eyes. "No, that's not it," Bilbo told him with a shake of his head.
Gandalf smiled and turned to the Dwarves, "What did I tell you? Quiet as a mouse. Excellent burglar material." Maristela smiled softly as Bilbo who looked exasperated over the fact that no one was listening to him. "Will you listen─Will you just listen? I'm trying to tell you there is something else out there!" Bilbo exclaimed gaining the Company's attention, the Dwarves appeared worried while Gandalf and Maristela shared a glance. "What form did it take? Like a bear?" Gandalf asked Bilbo. "Ye--" Bilbo paused and looks curiously at Gandalf, "Y─yes. But bigger, much bigger."
"You knew about this beast?" Bofur asked Gandalf while Maristela readjusted her pouch on her belt. "I say we double back," Bofur voiced recieving no response from Gandalf. "And ne run down by a pack of Orcs," Thorin pointed out to Bofur. "There is a house, it's not far from here, where we might take refuge," Gandalf suggested with his eyes on Maristela who sublty nodded her head. "Whose house? Are they friend or foe?" Thorin questioned the Grey Wizard. "Niether. He will help us, or he will kill us," Gandalf responded while Maristela smiled wide. "Well, he won't harm me," Maristela spoke up.
"What choice do we have?" Thorin asked after acknowledging Maristela's words, perhaps the home owner will allow them shelter due to her presence. A roar splits through the sky behind them, Maristela turned her head to the sound and knew it was the bear. "None," Gandalf tells them before the Company is running to escape both the beast and the Wargs. As the Company runs through a forest, Azog and his Orcs are racing through the forest too. Azog urges his party on but both groups stop suddenly when an ear-splitting roar sounds nearby. As the Dwarves panic and run, Bombur looks on in shock until he is pulled along.
"Go! Get to the house!" Maristela called out to the Company before slowing herself down, she turned to face the oncoming bear. "MARI!" Fíli called but Gandalf had grabbed his shoulder and forced him ahead, Thorin pulling Bofur and Kíli ahead as well when they turned to help the Elleth. The bear was bounding toward Maristela, she took in a deep breath before letting out a whistle in a melodic tune that caused the bear to falter to a stop in front of her. The Company had managed to reach the house, Fíli looked back and watched in awe as the large bear pressed its head into Maristela's raised palm.
Gandalf opened the door allowing the Dwarves and Bilbo to enter, he closed it shut and locked it knowing that Maristela would access the home through the side door. "What is that?" Ori asked with wide eyes full of curiosity. "That... is our host. And a dear friend of Maristela's," Gandalf answered him, the Dwarves and Bilbo turned to Gandalf in bewilderment. "His name is Beorn, and he is a skin-changer. Maristela and Beorn share a bond that was formed after he had saved her many years ago," Gandalf added while Thorin glanced towards the door, he hadn't expected such a beast to have willingly saved an Elleth Ranger but Elves were always more in tune with nature and animals.
Oin checks his hearing trumpet to make sure hr has heard Gandalf correctly while Fíli fought his instinct to rush out there and pull Maristela into the safety of the house, he knew she could handle herself as she had proven as such but he had natural instincts to protect the one he was falling for; twisting the small bead in his pocket out of sight of the others. It wasn't a traditional bead but it was the best he had until they entered the halls of Erebor, there he would find what he desired and it would be within the halls of his Forefathers that he would start officially courting the Elleth no matter the opinion of others; only Thorin and Kíli's opinions mattered.
"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," Gandalf spoke as Maristela stepped into the room from the side door. "However, he is not overly fond of Dwarves," Maristela spoke as she walked closer, Bofur instantly hugged her. "Don't you wonder off into danger!" Bofur scolded but the smile on his face showed her that he was being playful. "He didn't hurt you, did he?" Ori asked softly, his eyes looking the Elleth over. "No, Ori. He means me no harm, the bear may be unpredictable but he is fairly fond of me. Considers me a bear cub," Maristela reassured him.
"He's leaving!" Ori spoke noticing that the Bear was no longer lurking by the door after he had accompanied Maristela to the safety of his home. "Come away from there!" Dori ordered as he pulled his youngest brother away from the door, "It's not natural, none of it. It's obvious: he's under some dark spell." Maristela laughed at Dori's words, he always came out with the most amusing statements; not that he considered them amusing. "Don't be a fool; he's under no enchantment but his own," Gandalf told the prissy Dwarf while Maristela shook her head and moved towards the cushions in the corner; a space she had slept before.
"Alright now, get some sleep, all of you. You'll be safe here tonight," Gandalf suggested as Maristela put her things to the side, she laid back against the soft cushion and lightly played with the bracelet on her wrist. It was quiet moments like these that made Maristela miss her little bundle of joy, Elessar. Lord Elrond always made comments about how Elessar viewed Maristela as a mother rather than an older sister due to the maternal way Maristela treated the young boy. She knew that she would have to visit Rivendell after they had reclaimed Erebor as the boy would be awaiting her return eagerly.
"Are you okay?" Fíli asked as he sat down by her side, his brother lying on his bed roll a short distance from them talking to Bofur and Gloin. "Yeah, I just miss someone back in Rivendell. He's kind of like a son to me," Maristela answered with a small smile, Fíli nodding knowing she was talking about the boy they had seen momentarily in Rivendell when the Elleth wished him farewell. "I'm sure he looks forward to hearing about your tales," Fíli told her as he readjusted his coat. "Perhaps you should write him a letter, I'm sure you'd have a way of getting it to him," Fíli added with a smirk, Maristela simply winked at him.
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In the early morning, Maristela was the first to wake in the Company and she took immediate notice of Beorn in the kitchen. "You want to explain to me why my home is littered with Dwarves, Cub," Beorn asked once Maristela had stepped into the room. "They are dear friends of mine, Bear. I'd greatly appreciate any drop of kindness you show them," Maristela answered him with a sweet smile, Beorn raised his fluffy brow before shaking his head fondly, he could tolerate them for the sake of his cub. "Come, eat," Beorn instructed, she followed his words and sat down at the table with a smile as Beorn placed a plate of food in front of her.
Slowly, the Company woke up with Gandalf first approaching the table with a fond smile as his daughter animatedly told Beorn about their travels from The Shire to the Misty Mountains. "Seems you've been on quite the journey," Beorn voiced as Fíli and Kíli sat either side of Maristela, the two Dwarves looked up at the Skin-changer in awe. "So you are the one they call Oakenshield. Tell me, why is Azog the Defiler hunting you?" Beorn addressed Thorin once Bilbo had joined the Company, everyone helping themselves to breakfast that Beorn had offered them.
"You know of Azog? How?" Thorin asked Beorn, Maristela looked up at the Skin-changer with a frown knowing his story. "My people were the first to live in the mountains before the Orcs came down from the North. The Defiler killed most of my family, but some he enslaved," Beorn answered before holding up his hands showing the remnants of manacles on his wrists. "Not for work, you understand, but for sport. Caging Skin-changers and torturing them seemed to amuse him," Beorn added while Maristela bowed her head and closed her eyes, she felt someone's hand slip into her own.
Maristela looked to her right to see Fíli looking at her, his fingers interlocked with her own and he used his other hand to wipe the tear that fell from her eye. "There are others like you?" Bilbo asked Beorn with child-like wonder. "Once, there were many," Beorn answered him. "And now?" Bilbo inquired further. "Now, there is only one," Beorn told him causing the energy in the room to deepen, sorrowful looks shared around the table as they held sympathy for the last Skin-changer in their presence. "You need to reach the mountain before the last days of Autumn?" Beorn asked Thorin wanting to push past the sad silence.
"Before Durin's Day falls, yes," Gandalf spoke up with a nod of his head. "You are running out of time," Beorn reminded them. "Which is why we must go through Mirkwood," Gandalf informed him. "A darkness lies upon that forest. Fell things creep beneath those trees. There is an alliance between the Orcs of Moria and the Necromancer of Dol Guldor. I would not venture there except in great need. Even with an Elleth by your side," Beorn warned them, Maristela understood knowing that the dark enchantments of Mirkwood would not affect her like it will the Dwarves and Bilbo.
"We will take the Elven road. That path is still safe," Gandalf told Beorn. "Safe? The Wood-Elves of Mirkwood are not like their kin. Nor like our cub. They're less wise and more dangerous. But it matters not," Beorn spoke up, Maristela noticed the way the Dwarves looked at her after being referred to as Beorn's cub; she had truly become the last of Beorn's family even though they shared no blood. "What do you mean?" Thorin asked Beorn. "These lands are crawling with Orcs. Their numbers are growing, and you are on foot. You will never reach the forest alive," Beorn answered him.
Thorin looks shocked while Maristela simply deadpanned at Beorn, his eyes locked with hers and she took notice of the small smirk upon his face. Beorn stood from the table and faced Thorin, "I don't like Dwarves. They're greedy and blind, blind to the lives of those they deem lesser than their own." Maristela smiled knowing where he was going with this. Beorn plucked a mouse from the table and held it in his hand while approaching Thorin, "But Orcs I hate more. What do you need?" Maristela grinned at Beorn's words, she knew he would help however he could and she appreciated it.
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「 ✦ 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘 ✦ 」
And we are on to Act Two.
Legolas shows up in the next chapter and I don't think you are prepared for their encounter 'cause I am not.
Also, in the rest of this book be sure to remember this;
Elven = Italic
Dwarven = Bold
But I'll most likely state it before or after the dialogue. The translations were too difficult because it wouldn't translate properly.
By the way, my timeline of this book is based off of a random website as I never understood the timeline in the hobbit. It's been 90 days since they left The Shire.
Thoughts on Maristela's feelings for Fíli?
Thoughts on Fíli carrying a bead with the intent to court Maristela?
Thoughts on Maristela's friendship with the Dwarves?
Thoughts on Beorn seeing her as his cub?
Thoughts on this chapter?
Predictions? Suggestions? Theories?
See you in the next chapter!