Hello everyone! This chapter was brought to you by lots of tea because I discovered London Fog lattes while searching for a caffeine replacement for soda.

Also, to the Guest on Sept. 15th: I just fricking adore that both of y'all read this and have that kind of relationship. I'm really glad you and your daughter are still enjoying my fic, your reviews are just utterly delightful.

Please enjoy, everyone!

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The Loudest Silence

Chapter Thirty-One

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Jenna Hollander was becoming a very good… friend.

Thorin thought nothing of it when they formed a routine, with her sitting beside him at dinner, even if he was a little surprised the first time it happened. She seemed to gravitate more and more towards him since sharing her secret in Rivendell, which was normal, he supposed. She had been fretting over this unknown factor from the moment they had set off, and her anxieties made more sense with the context.

Even if said context was the complete height of insanity.

It was a wonder why she didn't just claim to be a seer of some sort, as that would have been more believable than her tale about their entire quest being detailed in a storybook.

(Was he crazy for wanting to believe her regardless?)

Miss Hollander seemed so genuine in her actions, interesting in her oddities, and dare he say maybe sweet… Combined with her circumstances and how determined she still seemed despite her lack of voice, it was no wonder he was growing attached. He had wanted, more than anything, to believe that the Valar had seen fit to send them some form of assistance. Regardless of how tentative his belief in Miss Hollander's story about her books had been, it was something optimistic to hold onto. It was a wild, fantastical thing that he'd never heard of happening before, and it explained so many things, so why shouldn't he? Why shouldn't Thorin allow himself to think that the first time this has ever happened would be during the mission to reclaim his home? Was that his pride talking? Or just being gullible?

It was more than obvious that she felt safe around Thorin and put increasingly more trust in him since telling him of the book. This made it all the more difficult not to reciprocate that trust. Wide eyes like emeralds, staring at him expectantly, hoping for friendship and comfort in this strange world after entrusting him with, what she believed, was her most dangerous secret? The secret that, if true, could completely alter any negative encounters that would pose a threat to his family and friends? Maybe even change the entire outcome of their quest, if things were destined to end poorly?

As if Thorin had any choice in the matter.

To outright ignore her words would be foolish, but blindly believing her whole-heartedly would be equally so. The storybook explanation connected dots. Insane, outrageous little dots, that had no other reasoning to be there.

Thus, keeping a healthy dose of skepticism in the back of his mind, he ran with it.

She began training with Dwalin, which was entertaining to watch. There were slow and steady improvements being made, including to her self-confidence, and it was amusing seeing Dwalin have to rein himself in when he got too into it. While Miss Hollander was getting better at defending herself, she was still quite delicate compared to even a regular Dwarf, much less one as strong as Dwalin.

With the training on top of the daily trek, she appeared to be slimming down a bit as well. It was nothing too drastic, as her figure was just naturally thicker, but the gradual loss of softness around her waist was beginning to accentuate her hips more. Though she would pass less for a boy now than she would have at the start, it was obvious if they kept training she would gain a little muscle before this journey was over, too.

The more sensible part of Thorin's brain asked why he was even paying attention enough to this woman's figure to notice these things.

The less sensible part said she was nice to look at either way.

Thorin may not have had much time in his life for courtship and romance, but he wasn't a complete idiot. He understood he was attracted to Miss Hollander. Regardless of how others may view his lack of a partner or question whether he ever intended to wed, he wasn't made of stone. He thought of these things from time to time, when he dared let his mind wander to the what-ifs. Which was not very often at all.

On a trip of this length, though, one was left to their mental wandering just as often as not.

The what-if ponderings were becoming a more frequent occurrence, at a time when he just couldn't afford to be so distracted. If it were simply that Miss Hollander was attractive, he could ignore it and go about his business, as he'd done with others. Of course Thorin had had the occasional dwarrowdam that worked up the courage to approach him and propose a mutual sating of appetites, but he'd never had time to entertain the thought of anything beyond an evening of physical pleasure. (Turning them down if their interests went beyond that was the only option, despite much chiding from Dís. She wanted a sister-in-law, damn it, preferably before she "crumbled away while waiting for him to have a conversation deeper than a teaspoon with a woman" as she had so eloquently put it.) His line would carry on through Fili and Kili, so he had no practical reason to search for someone to produce heirs, and besides all that, he didn't have time for such companionship. No matter how much his sister insisted that it would be good for him, or that he worked too hard, or that it would help with his diplomacy skills.

Dís would be having the time of her life if she only knew his current predicament.

No, if physical attraction were the only issue, it would not even warrant such thought. It was the increasingly apparent draw to Miss Hollander's company that had him worried. She seemed to have a baffling patience with his stoic and oftentimes harsh demeanor, which he'd found usually intimidated people out of trying to grow close with him (though only half of those were purposeful on his part), and her dry, snarky humor overlapped well with his own. Thorin found he wanted to be around her more often, share more little conversations with her when neither of them could sleep, enjoy the small comforting touches and reassurances when their worries were voiced to each other…

Yes. A very good… friend.

She was very easy to talk to, and he didn't feel as though speaking of his doubts to her would make her trust his leadership any less. It was a relief, in a way, to think Miss Hollander would be there to listen without judgement or believing him weaker for doing so.

It was different than confiding in Balin, or Dwalin, or any of his kin. There were expectations and traditions there to uphold, responsibilities, and a lifetime of battle-hardened bitterness shared between them on top of that. There was always that underlying knowledge that they looked to him as a leader though, deferring to his authority. He would not trade them for the world twice over, of course – he loved them with a ferocity that would make a dragon shy away in humble shame.

But Miss Hollander was becoming… Jenna.

She put him at ease with her gentle but odd presence. It made him feel not like the cold, unwavering King that he was expected to be, but like… Thorin.

Sitting before that field of fireflies mirroring the stars above, Thorin silently chastised himself for being glad she could not sleep. The company was appreciated as he recovered from his own nightmares, however much he did wish her nights were more restful. It never seemed to dampen the little spark behind her eyes though. The same one that insisted on tossing his own words back at him when she was feeling persnickety, or she thought he wasn't looking after himself well enough.

He couldn't recall what it was specifically that broke down his wall of willpower that evening. Maybe the terribly endearing way her hair, still mussed from sleep, stuck up in all directions without her notice, or how she gasped in wonderment at the sparkling field. Maybe the way she smiled at him with a tender warmth as he spoke of Erebor. Maybe how she reached for his hand in search of comfort, almost shyly and yet bold all at once, the contrast fitting her.

Jenna looked at him as though she understood he did not share these things easily or often. It was unsettling that she seemed to already know so much, but somehow was a weight off his shoulders at the same time.

Thorin was content to offer solace with a grasping of hands, as it was clear they both needed it. (His heart did not grow warm at the sight of her relaxing into the motion, and he certainly did not relax in turn. He did not appreciate the delicate softness of her hand in his, and there was absolutely not a single way he brushed his thumb over her knuckles and then asked if she had a husband – Mahal above.)

It was almost a relief when Jenna snorted with a small laugh at his question. The reality of his insinuation came barreling down, making him desire nothing more than to perhaps walk into the forest and just never come back. Quest be damned apparently.

(He could never, of course, but the embarrassment was… unfamiliar.)

Thorin could only assume her thoughts and what caused it to seem humorous. It stung slightly, when he believed her laugh to be at the idea of him being interested – even if he certainly wasn't. Certainly not. At all.

This flustered him in a new way though, as he questioned to himself why it stung. It shouldn't matter. He wasn't testing the ground. He was simply asking about her life back home. Nothing more.

(He justified the relief of her not having a husband as just being glad she did not leave some poor man behind, panicking because his wife was gone.)

And then Bilbo Baggins popped up.

After the excitement of all that, and having to catch Jenna before she fell backwards with the Hobbit's help, she returned to her bedroll, but the next guest lingered.

"I'm sorry. Again," Master Baggins apologized once more. He seemed a little more nervous without Jenna here, and Thorin supposed that was on him. "I didn't mean to interrupt your… ah, talk. With her."

"It was time she returned to sleep regardless," Thorin conceded. With the young woman already having told him to be nice once, he had to remind himself of it now that she wasn't present. (He briefly wondered why he was even listening to her.)

Master Baggins made a hum of agreement, glancing towards camp. "Yes. It's a shame how little rest she's been getting."

Small talk with the Hobbit was still… difficult. Something about his cushy lifestyle and know-it-all attitude rubbed Thorin the wrong way, but he seemed to have earned Jenna's favor, for whatever reason, and several others' in the Company as well. As much as Thorin would rather chew rocks, he supposed he could at least try and be amenable with their Burglar.

"Have you been… sleeping well yourself, Master Baggins?" Thorin wanted to roll his eyes with how stiff that came out. But it was an attempt. That's what counted, right?

It appeared that Bilbo was in agreeance with his thoughts on the matter, looking quite taken aback by Thorin's efforts at pleasantry. It took him a moment to respond, stumbling a bit as he said, "Uh, I – yes. Yes, I mean – it's not that different from camping on the edge of Hobbiton. If you ignore the uhm… wolves. And other such things." He danced around the specifics, but he was clearly referencing their hunters.

"Best not to ignore them if you mean to live another day," Thorin said simply, with a serious look to the other and his arms crossed.

"You've a fair point with that one," the Hobbit sheepishly recognized. He glanced away, obviously feeling a tad nervous again, choosing to look at the glittering field as he cleared his throat and stated, "I can't say I've ever seen so many fireflies in once place. We get loads of them in the Shire but nothing like this."

For a moment, Thorin considered just leaving it there. It wasn't going so terribly though, so he said, "I mentioned to Miss Hollander, the cavern in Erebor where I was born – the ceiling appeared to be covered in stars, with how many fireflies there were. The same during the birth of my brother and sister."

It was possibly the first time he'd earned a genuine smile, albeit a small one, from their Burglar. "Truly?" Bilbo clarified, then added, "I'm sure it was a lovely sight."

"It was indeed," Thorin said, a tad wistfully, deciding it best to cut off now before something could go horrendously wrong without Jenna to play arbiter.

With a nod from the King and a hesitant goodnight from Master Baggins, they returned to camp. All in all, not too bad. Maybe a tiny bit better than chewing rocks, even. What an accomplishment.

The next few days, however, proved to be… tumultuous.

It was all very sweet and good of the Company to provide Jenna with little niceties on her birthday. She was truly moved by their efforts, and it was warming to see her reaction to Ori's artwork of her. So happy she began crying, ever the one to wear emotions on her sleeves, and to be fair, it was a rather fetching portrait.

(It probably helped that the subject of such an image was already fetching.)

The peace and contentment amidst their dangerous journey was something to hold onto. It kept up morale. Seeing his kin and friends enjoy themselves momentarily was a bit of a balm to his soul, despite all the strife that still awaited them.

The following morning would change so many things.

Honestly, Thorin didn't give much thought to volunteering as Jenna's guard so she could bathe. They needed to get back on the road and their bickering about it was no help, so he stepped in as he saw fit. To have to go without a bath because of such nonsense, on the day after her birthday no less, would certainly put a damper on things.

Ignoring the mysterious rotten smell that wafted near every now and again – a mistake, a horrendous mistake – he showed her to the stream where they'd bathed.

Putting some distance between himself and Jenna was the only way he could afford her some privacy, and focus on something besides the sound of her dropping her boots. The rock he chose to sit on felt quite cold compared to the way his body was warming. While he couldn't hear it over the sound of the waterfalls, he knew her clothes were heaped on the ground and she had slipped into the water, as the vague splashes of bathing soon reached him.

This should not have been such a distraction.

Maybe they should have just let Nori come instead after all. At least he was open about having his mind in the gutter. Thorin felt an odd guilt clawing at him for the way he had to focus so hard on the forestry in front of his eyes, counting leaves, twigs, rocks. Anything not to think of the woman behind him.

Another mistake on his egregious list.

After a few minutes, something felt… off.

The second the terrible scent from the forest grew in strength and finally reached him was the same second that water came flying at his back, pelting like raindrops.

Thorin exclaimed automatically, "What is the purpose – ?!"

There was an angry shout behind him at the same time, that obviously couldn't have been his companion. He bolted up and whirled, a cold shot of dread bursting through his veins as he caught sight of the dagger narrowly missing Jenna.

Crossing the distance in but a single heartbeat, Orcrist was already drawn. It was only once closer that he recognized the man, Jean, who had somehow survived the Wargs.

Thorin was furious enough at the thought of anyone attacking a woman as they bathed – much less attacking Jenna, much less by this demented lowlife who had already hurt her enough.

It took far too much willpower not to immediately end him. He should have, honestly, as it would have saved them some trouble, but like the honorable fool he is, he chose mercy. This Jean was looking haggard and sickly, no doubt from the injury he lacked the proper skill to care for. Killing him outright would have been below Thorin, despite all that the man would have deserved it, and that was recognizable to him even in his anger.

The final mistake had been falling for the feint, when Jean threw his hands down in a rage to disguise the motion and raised one back up with another knife, hurling it not at him, as he anticipated. But at Jenna, who was attempting to dress. Thorin's eyes widened and his heart stalled, realizing too late – !

The blade veered short, imbedding into a tree as Jenna flinched – this was all Thorin could register before a body slammed into his.

It became a mess of leaves and rocks and limbs as the world spun, Thorin distantly hearing a whistle call. He was struggling to keep ahold of Orcrist as Jean tried to wrestle it from his grip. Both their arms landed upon a rock and jarred it from them, and it was left behind as they continued downward. It was just as well, as Thorin couldn't have gotten a hit in with it at this rate. There was a split second where he managed to free his hand and snag the dagger he kept at his waist.

It didn't take much after that. He wedged the blade between them at the man's chest, and gravity did the remainder as Thorin landed on top of him before they rolled again. Jean gasped, a choking sound escaping him as they tumbled to a stop at the base of the hill.

Thorin was quick to shove Jean off of him before he could truly begin bleeding everywhere, as the poor wrappings from the Warg bite soaked up a good portion of the blood. An unfortunate side-effect of their fall though was the fact that Thorin was now incredibly dizzy, making it hard to stand.

He thought maybe he'd hit hit head or something when Jenna came barreling downhill without her pants on, carrying Orcrist. It would have been a more welcome sight had her breathing not been so shallow, her limbs quaking twice as much as his while she dropped the sword to help him to his feet. Jenna was well and truly panicking, leaving him confused for a moment, until he realized she was panicking specifically over him. Her eyes were blown wide as they darted about his person to seek out any injuries, hands dancing lightly over his arms and torso, until they finally reached his face.

A few things occurred to Thorin in that moment, some more pleasant than others.

The first being that he didn't mind getting tossed down a hill if it meant Jenna would put her hands on his beard more often.

(He tried to ignore that one.)

The second was wondering if this was what Dís meant, all those times she waxed poetic about finding someone who cared about you so deeply, and that it would be good for him. If this held even a hint of that same feeling… He didn't enjoy seeing Jenna so beside herself with worry, obviously, but there was something in his core that melted at the idea of it being for him.

And the third.

While Thorin takes hold of her hands to calm her, regrettably pulling them from his face to instead keep them against his chest, he is struck by familiarity as the sun filters through the yellowing trees overhead. He knows he has never experienced this, so why…?

Jenna curls into him as she crumples, finally accepting that he is alright and that they are both safe, and he follows her to the ground instinctively to prevent her from falling outright. Although he was very aware of the fact that she still had no pants on, it was a small thing in comparison to what just occurred, and he could admit to himself that he was just as relieved that she was unharmed. It concerned him how much comfort he found by having her there in his arms as proof of that. The way he held her was perhaps a little too informal, but he couldn't find it in himself to worry about propriety just then.

Despite all this, something about the dappling sunlight through the foliage above sends Thorin's mind down a curious path. It feels like he has seen this all, as if in a dream, coming to him in fuzzy pieces.

…the sun is filtering through the trees as a bright light. Her hand in his while she holds on for dear life, trembling…

It strikes him then.

The Elf Witch.

Back in Rivendell, the visions he had been shown by that woman. (Jenna had called her Galadriel, if memory served.) The images play in his head again, no longer just a distant memory, but melding with recent events in a blurred overlay of the two.

The man is standing alongside glinting silver, distorted and wrong and red… He'd been sick and injured and out of his mind, now bleeding out a few steps away.

That was why the scene had seemed familiar but not at the same time, when the witch had first shown him. It hadn't been Jenna's dream of her rescue from the Men after the Warg attack, as Thorin had assumed. The trees had not begun their change for autumn when Jenna had been kidnapped.

The realization has the hairs on Thorin's neck standing on end. If anything, holding Jenna was a tether as this unsettling reality occurred to him.

This moment was not the only vision he'd been shown.

If they were all things that had yet to come, then there would be another Warg attack. Assuming this was not some elaborate trick on that Witch's part to upset him, somehow. The beast he saw in that prediction was too light in color, the time of day wrong… This new attack would happen closer to nightfall.

Thorin recalls the final half of the visions Galadriel had shared, and finds himself once again wondering at the significance of Ravenhill. The panic he'd felt in that portion was so visceral, it was like being cleaved through with emotion.

What is to happen on Ravenhill?

The search party found them, having heard Jenna's call for help. The King tried to ignore the way Dwalin and Balin, upon arrival, dissected the scene with knowing eyes. Not necessarily the corpse of the man who'd attacked them, but the way Jenna clung to Thorin, and the way his own hands lingered on her protectively, just a second too long. He discovered it quite difficult to relequinsh Jenna over to Bofur, but he knew it was foolish to further hold the young woman, much less in such a familiar manner when she was still only half dressed. Plus, he knew there was still a body to take care of.

Even if he was living in his own lovely little denial of what what was happening, Balin and Dwalin were certainly aware of it now, if they hadn't been already.

There was no clear way for Thorin to assuage Jenna's worries regarding Dwalin, Gloín, and himself staying behind, though he assumed her face of panic had something to do with diverging from their preordained path. She'd explained that the Men were an outside force that left her with a blind spot of sorts when it came to the story. Them staying behind to bury a body that was never meant to be there would certainly be viewed as dangerous to her. Regardless, it had to be done, or their trail would be easier to find than a brick in a boot.

After Gloín ran back to camp to retrieve a shovel, and the others accompanied Jenna back as well, Thorin and Dwalin set about finding softer ground for this corpse. By the time Gloín returned, they'd discovered a decent area and got to work, only encountering a hiccup when the shovel got caught on stubborn dirt that turned out to be more rock than expected. Dwalin pulled up to dislodge it from the dirt at the same time that Gloín reached to just move the rock, the rock came loose abruptly, and it resulted in their companion being knocked out cold for quite a while.

After checking vitals to make sure that Gloín hadn't just been accidentally murdered, Thorin gave Dwalin a very unimpressed stare.

"Don't give me that," Dwalin griped. "He shoulda gave some warnin'."

While Gloín recovered, the two conscious Dwarves continued alternating the shovel between them, with Dwalin pointedly ignoring the look that Thorin threw his way any time they came across a similarly sized rock.

Their third companion finally woke when they'd gotten Jean mostly buried, and Thorin let them bicker about whose fault it was as they disguised the disturbed dirt with leaves and branches and such. Once satisfied, they cleaned themselves up a bit in the creek, though before they set off, Thorin remembered to double-back and make sure the bathing area they'd used was clear as well. In all the panic, he wasn't sure if the others would have gotten everything.

It was just as well that Thorin checked. The knife that the Man chucked at Jenna was still imbedded in the tree, and loathe as he was to interact with the accursed thing, it was still proof that someone had been here recently. He also spotted a familiar light square on the ground beside the water. Thorin stooped to retrieve the soap, knowing Jenna would appreciate having this small bit of luxury returned to her.

These two items together reminded him, once again, just how much more poorly this day could have gone. Had Thorin not been so preoccupied with containing his indecent thoughts, then maybe such a close encounter could have been prevented. Maybe he would have listened to his survival instincts over those of another kind.

This was becoming a dangerous distraction.

Running after the Company was not a pleasant experience, but Thorin had dealt with much more taxing things in his life. If it meant the Warg scouts would stay off their trail for a little longer, then it was worth the effort. Gloín was the most vocal about the speedy trek, rattling off something about being a born sprinter one second and then blaming his headache when he inevitably dragged behind. There were several points where they had to stop and rest, much as Thorin was ready to be back with the Company. It wouldn't do if Gloín keeled over again.

They paused next to a boulder so as not to be in the wide open fields without some small cover, and the ginger Dwarf plopped down against it on the ground for a moment to catch his breath. Thorin couldn't bring himself to sit, nervous energies all geared towards those he felt responsible for being so far away. He trusted Balin as a leader and a warrior, of course, and he knew there were other skilled fighters amongst them such as his sister-sons and Bifur (even if he was a little sporadic), and to some extent, Dori and Nori. While not a warrior, Jenna was… working on it.

And the Hobbit was skilled at conkers, apparently, so that was a remarkably helpful addition.

Thorin tried not to think of how distressed Jenna probably was at that moment. Especially after one of her tormentors just reappeared from the grave to try and enact revenge over something that wasn't even her fault. She had enough nightmares as it was.

"In yer head a bit more than usual," Dwalin commented, also taking a spot on the ground nearby. It was easy for him to note the King's tension.

Sparing a glance to him before looking back to the field, Thorin said, "I am simply anxious to be getting back to the others."

"That all then?"

Thorin returned his attention to Dwalin, holding the stare longer this time with a clear question. Why did it seem like there was more to that statement?

Dwalin appeared unswayed, and maybe a little smug, of all things. He shook his head slightly, dismissing whatever underlying implications floated there as he said, "Just wonderin' if there were somethin' I need know about."

"I shall inform you if there is," Thorin addressed firmly, his glare making it clear he did not want to talk about whatever it was Dwalin thought he was onto.

Once more, his old friend seemed unfazed, but relented all the same with, "Aye, alright. Alright." This would be a long enough day without the additional controversy.

Making it back to the group and finding nothing had gone horribly awry in their absence was a relief. It seemed like very few things were going according to plan on this trip as it was, so Thorin did not feel quite as conflicted about the way the tension in his body drained when he spotted Jenna sitting across camp, looking in much better spirits than when he last saw her.

Oín was a caretaker first and foremost, so it wasn't much surprise when he insisted on the salve application for the scratches upon Thorin's cheek. Having Jenna do it, though, felt like a calculated trick to get Thorin to comply easier, and he vowed to never to underestimate the seemingly harmless old medic. If there was one thing Oín was the best at, it was making sure those in his care got ointment plastered on them when the occasion arose.

Thorin believed it would be better to save the supply and the trouble of it, but Jenna had already propped herself up and got to work. After a day of bustling after the Company, Thorin was a bit tired and found he was unwilling to argue too much over it when she seemed so determined to help. To top it off, he didn't even have to get tossed down a hill again to have her delicately touching his beard, tilting his chin as needed to find the right angle. It was absurdly pleasant, aside from the sting of the paste.

He wondered if anyone had bothered to explain to her the insinuated intimacy of touching a Dwarf's beard or hair in general. Surely not, or she would likely be thoroughly embarrassed at her bold actions.

Lost in the ministrations of gentle hands, Thorin made the mistake of relaxing further, letting his stare drift from the trees to the woman before him, whose face was very close to his. He took in that look of concentration she wore with her lips slightly poking out as she focused on her task, and came to the conclusion that it was not only terribly adorable, but that it was terribly dangerous. It was not helped when those green eyes locked with his own, and Jenna seemed to realize their proximity, a blossom of red painting across her cheeks as the muscles in her neck struggled with a swallow.

Mahal above –

"Thank you. That's… enough, I'm sure."

This was absurd.

He returned her soap to her and after a small exchange about what happened earlier that day, she separated rather abruptly to take Oín his tin of salve. Of course, with recent events, it was not surprising that her mood ebbed into a more subdued territory, though obviously Thorin had attributed it to her recovering from the fright of Jean's reappearance. He had never expected that it was because she would be debating with herself for a whole day, preparing to tell him some of the worst news he could have received.

Jenna's worried expression that following evening, when she asked to speak with him, did not bode well. When they separated from the group and her nerves reared up, he tried to patiently reassure her of whatever it was she was hesitant to share. Thorin could not have braced himself for the words her hands would form.

'Azog – '

Ice formed in his veins.

' – is still – '

Thorin stopped breathing.

' – alive.'

…No.

No.

Absolutely not.

What kind of game was she playing, to throw this at him?

Jenna refused to back down that night and he refused to believe her.

That vile creature bled out, died of his injuries, and Thorin would not hear otherwise. The idea that Azog could have been roaming the lands this entire time, having been left to his own horrendous devices after what had been done, was enough roil Thorin's stomach. That would mean his grandfather had not been avenged after all, and that the Pale Orc was still out there ruining lives. What's more, it would be his own fault for prematurely believing he'd finished the job.

He couldn't stand the thought.

No.

The word echoed in his head like a terrible mantra.

There was a sickening speck of doubt that wormed its way into Thorin's mind as the next day arrived and Jenna tried once more to persuade him. Her insistence was fraying his nerves as the possibility haunted him, the memories of that battle resurfacing with fresh strength and causing him to push the Company harder, unable to dissipate that feeling of being cornered. It was all he could do to remind himself that Jenna was also still in a delicate state after their encounter, and that she was simply trying to help, but it was… it was just so much.

They sat down for dinner the next night, and Jenna seemed to relent in her attempts to get him to hear her out, for the time at least. Thorin was aggravated with himself when he realized just how much he was getting used to having her as a dining companion, relieved in a way to have her there again, despite their current spat. He could tell she wasn't giving up, but she simply did not want to continue pushing, giving him his own room to consider things. This truce was appreciated, though her presence brought forth contradictory feelings at that moment. Both reassuring and irritating, simultaneously making it easier and harder to think. He had so many questions and yet did not want to speak to her.

Why would she only tell him of the Orc now? What relevance would this even have upon their quest, that she would find it necessary to reveal such a thing to him? Assuming her storybook of their journey was real, how would Azog come into play – ?

The more he mulled it over, the more he realized there were pieces of other puzzles that fit together too cleanly with hers. Thorin thought of his meeting with Gandalf in Bree, when he had first been shown the bounty that was out upon his head. That sick feeling returned when he understood just how likely it was, if Azog were alive, that the beast would be out for blood. A large bounty on Thorin, posed by the fearsome Orc war chief trying to get revenge for the loss of his arm and his battle?

It made too much sense.

It made too much sense, and Thorin…

For the first time in ages, Thorin was afraid. He was afraid for his family and for those who had chosen to follow him.

Fili and Kili would be in immeasurable danger if Azog were to catch up with their group. Skilled warriors they may be, but this was entirely different than anything they'd faced in their lives, and that monster would show no mercy. His goal had been to wipe out the line of Durin, after all, and he could do it all too easily while they were focused on this quest, travelling in a group that barely numbered fifteen. And only half of that number had the proper capabilities to last in a fight with battle-trained Orcs.

If Jenna was telling the truth, then Thorin could not afford to dismiss her words.

He wanted nothing more than for her to just say it had all been an elaborate ruse, because while that would sting – after having put such trust in her – at least it would mean Azog wasn't hunting them down. At least if the other shoe dropped now, like he had been expecting from the start of her involvement, then it would mean he hadn't doomed Fili and Kili along with the rest of his kin and Company. Before they even made it to Erebor, at that.

These thoughts persisted well into the night, causing Thorin's sleep to be fitful and restless. When he finally did manage to doze deep enough, his nightmares were plagued with the gates of Moria and a hulking white figure, slicing through Dwarves left and right. His brother falling in battle. Thrain disappearing into the throng of blood and bodies, never returning, and Thrór's head rising above the rest, no longer attached to anything. This shifts and melts into other familiar faces from the Durin line and –

The sensation of an arm across his chest is enough to send him jolting into action, prepared to face down another foe as he flips over, pinning them to the ground harshly.

Nightmares bleed from Thorin's vision too slowly as he recognizes the wide, watery eyes beneath him, confused as to why Jenna would be at the Battle of Azanulbizar.

The truth is that she wouldn't be, of course. This is… This is not the battle. He is not witnessing the murder of his kin, nor fighting for his life. He is staring at this soft human woman, the utter antithesis of everything he'd been reliving before.

He cannot help the way the energy leaves his body in one fell swoop, his head hanging, relieved that he is in the present. A hand he hadn't realized was on his chest slides across, over to his arm to rub in a soothing way, and then gives it a pat. It doesn't immediately register that this is not simply a comforting motion. Only when her hips wiggle for freedom beneath him does Thorin realize he is straddling her and still retains her arm in a vice-like grip.

Thorin is off of her within the second, helping her up and apologizing. Naturally, instead of worrying over her own obviously injured arm, she asks if he is alright, and that – Thorin cannot bring himself to answer honestly. Not when he just nearly broke her arm, not when his thoughts were still riddled with past phantoms, not when Balin is standing nearby, also waiting to see if he is alright. It was all he could do to excuse himself and retreat some ways into the surrounding forest. He needed to breathe and to think.

It wasn't entirely surprising that Jenna followed him. She was the cause of this accursed turmoil, after all. So, Thorin confronted her then, understanding the encounter with Jean had likely sparked the need in her to bring this information forward. The guilt was written all over her face. It was infuriating as she gave the same excuses as always; that she had to be careful, she had to watch what she shared or risk damning their entire world.

(How could this girl possibly have that kind of knowledge? The kind that could wrench Middle Earth apart if she took even one single misstep? It was so hard to believe. All of it was just so – )

But she wouldn't sway on this.

He instead asked, once and for all, if Azog was pursuing his Company.

The look on Jenna's face was confirmation enough.

(Why couldn't she just be insane? It would almost be easier if she was.)

As Thorin sat there on that rock, wondering how in the name of the Valar he was going to ensure his Company made it across the mountains alive, she once again caught him off guard. Jenna boldly placed herself on her knees before him and, in an effort to quell his worries, signed out his words from two days ago.

'We will handle it.'

She appeared so certain. Not everything was written in stone, though, as they'd already experienced, and he voiced as much. Thorin wanted to trust her, he wanted to believe that this would all turn out alright, but there was too much she could not possibly understand. Jenna had never seen a real battle, even if her experience with the Wargs had been a bloody one. She did not know the true savagery of Orcs, much less one as foul as Azog. He hoped for her sake that she would never find out.

At the same time, despite the naïveté she exuded on this subject, her complete faith in his capabilities was equal parts terrifying and invigorating. It was once again as if opposite emotions warred inside him. He wanted to tell her she was wrong and that she understood nothing, but how could he when her hands reached for his, after monumental words about her trust in him and this Company? When Jenna watched him with eyes that seemed to know impossible things, and were beginning to see beyond his shield that he put forth against the world?

Thorin held onto her hands far longer than he should have. Far longer than what would be deemed appropriate. It was a moment of mutual comfort that grounded him to the present, not allowing his mind to venture back to any battles just then, and it made him realize that he was beginning to crave this sort of intimacy and reassurance.

The King wanted. Wanting was a luxury available to those other than himself. He couldn't afford to want anything besides what was best for his people, and this? A woman of Men? One who was constantly bringing forth information and mysteries and news that he didn't understand?

Perhaps it was for the best, then, that he had retained that skepticism in the back of his mind. Regardless of how alluring the idea was, putting that kind of trust in anybody besides his kin had always ended poorly.

That didn't mean Thorin's vindication, when Jenna mocked that they would come across Rock Giants and be carted off by the Great Eagles themselves, felt good by any means. She was angry, despite the fact that she was the one keeping vital information from him, and lashed out, spouting wild nonsense in retaliation.

Thorin had let himself be drawn in by charming emerald eyes and now he was paying the confusing price, wondering if he'd been playing along too well. He did not truly think she would lie to him about Azog, but this was not the time to be petty, and the mounting stress of the past few days caught up with him as he snapped at Jenna in return. He was surprised she was so shocked when he called her out on it, watching as her jaw dropped and she recoiled.

Good, he reasoned. She would take back her nonsense about giants and eagles and apologize, and they could move on. Despite how inexperienced she seemed with the world, Thorin knew she understood there was a time and place for that sort of thing. It was not like her to be so inconsiderate. So why now? When there was more on the line than ever?

Except…

She did not take it back.

She did not apologize.

One day turned into two, and two into three. The Misty Moutains were essentially upon them as their trek elevated more and more on a daily basis, rocky hills becoming a steep and tiresome climb. Edges of land became sheer drop offs far more often than not, adding an extra hazard on top of loose boulders and potential landslides.

Thorin did not want to think on the possibility that Jenna's whole story had been fabricated for some unknown reason, and that Gandalf had lied about putting the tattoo on her or telling her of what happened in Bree. Perhaps Balin had told her of their near incineration upon the ramparts when Smaug attacked, and he simply was not aware. Lying about Azog's survival seemed especially heinous for someone like her, but… Thorin had been burned before by those he called allies. Just because it would hurt did not make it impossible.

At the same time though, Jenna did not appear to be taking this disagreement any better than he was. They were no longer sitting together during dinner, and her days were filled with efforts to avoid any sort of interaction with him. It became a somewhat regular occurrence for her to disappear for bathroom privacy slightly longer than usual, only to return with red eyes and a blotchy face. Bofur's attempts to cheer her up were full of confliction, knowing Thorin was not speaking to her for some reason and not wanting to irritate his King, but also not understanding why this was happening. Dwalin was in a similar boat as he continued training Jenna, though seemed to be more biding his time until Thorin decided to confide in him, rather than just willingly tiptoeing around it.

Bofur and Dwalin were not the only ones confused, though, and the morale of the Company sank lower, even as they climbed higher into the mountains.

To be fair, it wasn't as though the sun was able to shed its light on them much either, with the Misty Mountains living up to their name. The weather had descended into an intense gloom over the last day or so, with grey clouds accumulating overhead that seemed determined to keep everyone in an even more abysmal mood than they already were.

(With the clouds growing darker every hour, Thorin recalled what Jenna had said about a storm occurring before the supposed Stone Giants. A single storm did not mean these ancient creatures of myth would just pop up, he reminded himself. Then again, they did not expect an entire damned Dragon to invade Erebor either, or for Trolls to capture their ponies, or to even meet two wizards in his life, so maybe Thorin's track record for mythical beings was questionable.)

On the fourth evening, it was actually Balin who finally decided he'd had enough of this oppressive atmosphere that had settled over them. Whether out of concern for Thorin or for Jenna or for the group's overall wellness, Balin asked to speak to him, Dwalin joining as well.

"Thorin, we cannot continue to pretend as though the whole Company hasn't noticed," the white-haired Dwarf said seriously. The rocky area didn't provide much in the way of coverage or privacy, with only a few shrubs to be seen, but it would have to do. They'd distanced themselves from the group, conversing halfway behind a crag that jutted from the ground sharply, and Balin took a seat on one of the many rocks. "What is it, going on between the lass and yourself?"

Sighing heavily, Thorin knew his old friend was right. Keeping this from them was just not working. He needed the consultation of those he trusted, now more than ever.

From the moment he made the promise to Jenna, it had been understood that the reigning stipulation above all else for that discretion was the safety of his Company, and he was at a loss for where that left him. The options were few. He did not want to betray her trust, but in that same vein, he felt as though she had already betrayed his. If she's telling the truth of Azog and yet will not reveal how their encounter comes about, then how is that not betrayal? Whatever event she supposedly cannot change could not possibly be worth dropping his entire Company into the hands of the Pale Orc.

Balin continued with words that caught him off guard, though, stating, "She's already told me of Azog, lad. Didn't say how she knows, but seemed certain of it regardless."

That surprised Thorin a bit, with how closely the young woman guarded her secrets.

It was Dwalin's turn to take pause though, where he stood with his arms crossed, staring at his brother in bewilderment, then looking to Thorin for answers. "Azog? What's he to do with it?"

"According to her, Azog still lives," Thorin shared grimly, crossing his arms unconsciously as well.

Naturally, Dwalin's bushy brows rose up significantly, then he collected himself and scoffed with a shake of his head, though the action seemed more for himself than for them. "That's not possible. Besides all that, how would she know a thing about him? She weren't in this world or even born yet for that matter."

"A mistake for many young warriors, to count your enemy dead when you didn't see him stop breathing," Balin said wisely, meeting Thorin's eyes.

For a second, it was like Dwalin wanted to be upset on his King's behalf, but when Thorin did not refute this statement with the anticipated backlash, it became clear to him. Thorin had already been through the steps of accepting that Azog may still be out there, and it was due to Jenna. It's what they'd been going back and forth over for a week now, with Thorin having time to process, and several things clicked into place for Dwalin.

"Still, doesn't explain the tiff ye've found yourselves in lately," Dwalin said, reluctantly going along with this new information. "According to her, Azog lives. And what?"

"And now we are to cross paths with him," Thorin replied with some effort to stay calm, trying to ignore their conflicted looks of shock and confusion. He was hesitant about the next bit of information, explaining with caution. "Jenna knows impossible things about our world, and about our quest. I've told her I would keep her secret, but I am unsure of whether or not that was wise."

"Is she a Seer?" Balin hazarded a guess.

Thorin shook his head shortly, pulling an expression of consternation. "No. It is more complicated than that," he said.

"Then how does she know what's yet to happen, lad?" continued Balin. "She must have a means to tell the future, if you're considering such a thing as Azog being alive."

"It is not simply the future she knows, but some parts of the past as well," Thorin said, then paused, remembering the words exchanged with her in Rivendell. "Unless you were the one who told her of the dragonfire I barely pulled you from, upon the ramparts during Smaug's siege of Erebor?"

Balin looked utterly taken aback, blinking a few times and seeming to search for the proper words. "No, I… I've not mentioned anything of the sort to her. How…?"

"As I've said, I cannot explain further. Our current issue lies with the most recent information she's given me. I'd believed her to be spouting wild stories in anger with how ridiculous it sounded," he admitted, frowning. "Now I am not so certain, as she's yet to take back her words."

Dwalin had been just as floored by all this as his brother, finally managing to speak again in order to inquire, "Well? What'd she say?"

With a decent measure of dubiousness in his voice, Thorin answered, "We are to encounter Stone Giants before ever we reach Azog, and Goblins, and apparently the Great Eagles of Gwaihir after, who will carry us elsewhere."

There was a long pause as the brothers shared a look, then turned back to their King with apprehension, and maybe a bit of worry.

"Thorin…" Balin began in a concerned tone.

Said Dwarf was shaking his head though, pacing slightly. "You understand why we are at an impasse then?" he asked as he thought on his next course of action. "She refuses to tell me how we come to encounter Azog, only the location and that we will. As if that isn't difficult enough, she then makes these claims atop of it all?"

It was then that Dwalin cleared his throat, and also said, "Thorin."

There was an odd firmness to it that made Thorin stop pacing. He looked to them long enough this time to notice their eyes had travelled behind him, and there was a sinking feeling as he turned his head.

Ah.

There were two bowls in her hands, as Jenna had rounded the large rock that shielded them from the Company's view. Beside her was the Hobbit, also holding a bowl. Master Baggins had volunteered to help her bring them their dinner, no doubt. He was glancing between them, to the woman who had frozen in place, clearly confused as to the sudden tension in the air.

It was a wonder that Jenna hadn't dropped the bowls, with how her shoulders slumped as she stared at Thorin, her mouth having fallen open slightly. Her eyes darted over to Balin and Dwalin, and back to him as her brows scrunched together further, expression cracking to reveal the hurt beneath.

Thorin would not cave on this, though. Not this. No matter how distraught she looked, no matter the fact that she looked even more betrayed than when he'd bodily pinned her to the ground.

"We cannot go blindly into the arms of those who would see us dead," he told her, shifting to her direction a little more. "I must keep my Company safe, and if you will not help in that, then I must consult with those who will."

It was almost impressive that Jenna even managed to shove her two bowls over at Bilbo before she started in, and even more impressive that the Hobbit was able to balance them all so suddenly.

'We cannot change, is dangerous, I told you secret, you promise,' Jenna signed, skipping over parts with how upset she was.

Thorin still understood all the same what point she was trying to make though, rebuffing with, "And you told me my Company would safely cross the Misty Mountains, which is clearly not the case."

'They will!' she said, eyes watering up as she began breaking down further.

"That is not something you can promise anymore, Jenna," Thorin argued sharply, finally losing some of the patience he'd been trying to hold onto. "If that monster catches us, you cannot say everyone will make it – "

'The eagles will – '

"The Eagles will do nothing! I do not know what you've learned in your world, but the Great Eagles of Gwaihir do not simply pluck Dwarves from a cliffside in their hour of need!" he interrupted before she could finish signing.

There was an excruciatingly long moment of stillness and silence. Jenna stopped moving her hands, face scrunching as she lost the battle with herself to keep from crying. Instead, her arms crossed to hug her middle in a motion of attempted comfort as she shook her head at him, like she was done having this argument.

(She wasn't taking it back, even now? Even when confronted before others?)

The Hobbit spoke up about then – because of course he had to shove his nose into it – looking well and truly perturbed by the way their exchange had escalated. He said uncertainly, "I'm sorry, I don't… fully understand what's going on, but – monster? Did you – did he say monster? Have there been more Warg scouts spotted?"

"This does not concern you, Master Baggins," Thorin rumbled, not wanting to deal with their shoddy Burglar on top of everything else.

Aforementioned Burglar seemed a little put off by that, feeling insulted. "Well, I'm a bit lost as to the context, but it sounds like we're being followed again, and I'd think that concerns the whole Company."

"Laddie, maybe ye should just sit this one – " Balin began to warn, but it was beyond helping as the King jutted in once more.

"Lost?" interjected Thorin, facing Bilbo with a glare. "You have been lost ever since you set foot from your door."

For some reason, this caused Jenna to stiffen, and her expression took on a tinge of confusion as she looked between the two of them. Thorin believed it was simply due to her being defensive of the Halfling.

Bilbo himself just tilted his head slightly as he drew back, expression looking a bit wounded and yet somehow not as surprised as expected. For what little progress they'd made, it seemed like it was all about to fly out the window with fabulous aplomb. He opened his mouth to retaliate, offended, but was overshadowed by the King continuing on.

The words, like water broken free of a damn, slipped from Thorin's mouth in his frustration. "You should never have come. You have no place here, no matter what the wizard says. And you – " he said, focusing on Jenna, " – should have stayed behind in that accursed valley of Elves. If the only help you're willing to provide is nigh upon useless warnings, you might as well have just left us to meet Azog on our own!"

At least she would be safe if she'd stayed there. At least her and that thrice-damned Halfling would be out of harm's way, would be two less bodies he'd have to see dead at the hands of Orcs.

It didn't seem possible, but Jenna found a way to curl in on herself further, face turning a little red with her own aggravation and tears. The arms clutching her stomach tightened as though his words physically hurt her, and that was almost enough to snuff out the ire rampaging through Thorin.

With how quiet it was, there was no doubt the rest of the Company had overheard. If nothing else, then they'd certainly gotten that last part.

Balin and Dwalin just seemed tense and uncertain of where to go from here, knowing Thorin had his reasons to be upset, but Master Baggins appeared more than a little rattled. He glanced between Jenna and Thorin and the other two, blinking a few times as he shook his head the tiniest amount.

"I – Well... Alright then," the Halfling said with a very restrained politeness. He gave one more look to the distraught woman, nodded once as if coming to a decision, then walked over to Balin and Dwalin, handing off all three bowls, not wanting to chance trying to hand Thorin his own. After, he made his way back over to Jenna, clearing his throat with one more look to Thorin. "If that's truly how you feel. I can – I can appreciate honesty, as much as the next. Thank you."

With a tight-lipped smile that was bordering on pained, he shifted his gaze to check on the woman once more before departing back around the rock to camp.

Jenna had yet to move her eyes from Thorin, though.

It was about then that Balin risked a few words to her, saying, "He didn't tell us much, lass. Just that you've got a knowledge of certain things…" The white-haired Dwarf trailed off when Jenna started shaking her head again.

She shuddered with a heavy sigh through her nose, her lips pressed together harshly in an effort to keep composure. There were still fresh tears rolling down her cheeks, however.

Thorin wasn't sure what she was expecting, because she wasn't getting an apology. Unwilling to give in to those emeralds again, he began to say, "It is one thing to keep your bizarre secret, but another entirely to keep this from my Company. If we are hunted down by – "

'I cannot speak to you right now,' Jenna signed, with a tightly clenched jaw and a hardness in her eyes that could cut glass. It would be enough to send a Warg running with its tail tucked, and was so far removed from anything he'd seen on her face before.

He was thrown off kilter by her severity, some of the wind leaving his sails, and as such, he did not stop her when she turned and followed the Hobbit back to camp. Thorin stared after her for a moment, as that small shred of doubt in the back of his mind sprang to life again with renewed vigor.

Within the same half a second though, he was reminded that nothing had been resolved regarding the imminent danger of his Company.

Standing from his seat, Balin made his way over to Thorin with two of the bowls in his hands.

"I can't say I blame you for havin' doubts, lad. Stone Giants and Great Eagles… It's a bit much. However," Balin said carefully, "You either believe her or ye don't."

Thorin gave him a questioning look, unsure of where this was going.

In reply, Balin simply asked, "You believe Azog could be the one tailing us?"

"Aye," Thorin replied with a frown, looking away momentarily before he tacked on, "There were other clues, though. The bounty out on myself, for one. It was written in Black Speech. Who else would see the need for such but Azog?"

"I see where ye're coming from, but do ye really think it wise to let her believe she has your support on this, only to rescind it?" Balin inquired seriously.

Thorin stared at him, a little incredulous. "You truly expect giants and eagles, Balin?"

"Well, no," the old Dwarf responded like it was a silly question, then pinned him with a look. "But she does. For some reason or another. And for those same reasons, she saw fit to warn you of Azog. Why would only one be true?"

Dwalin had meandered over, looking towards camp and asking lightly, "So, ye'd rather I go ask her how tall the giants are, or would you like the honors?"

Glaring briefly at him, Thorin didn't warrant an answer for that.

Balin handed off one of the bowls to Thorin, shooting his brother a disapproving glance before addressing the real question. He asked their King with a patient tone, "What would ye have us do, lad?"

Thorin wished he knew. This was the most confusing mess he'd ever had the displeasure of being a part of, and there was no easy answer. He was conflicted on many levels, wanting to protect his Company above all else, but also hating how Jenna had looked at him. He wanted to go apologize and yet call her mad in the same breath.

"We continue on as expected," Thorin eventually said, wary of what may await them. "If we happen upon Stone Giants, then we make a plan to deal with the Pale Orc."

That was as good a compromise as they would get right now. Nevermind the fact that encountering Stone Giants would be incredibly hazardous and likely fatal, if there was a grain of truth to any of the legends. Jenna had also mentioned Goblins, but a handful of those in the mountains were not uncommon, so as long as they kept their eyes peeled, a few would be easy to handle. No, Azog would be the real problem.

It was a shame though, that Thorin wouldn't realize until later that there would be no time for planning.

---

The smothering tension of the Company hadn't faded in the slightest by the following morning, and in fact, only worsened. Thorin noticed that Fili and Kili were continuously trying to puzzle out what had happened during that argument, as he remained tight-lipped about the whole thing until they could get confirmation of the giants. There would be no point in dragging more of the group into this if it didn't even turn out to be true. The two princes seemed to take it hard, when not even Jenna or Master Baggins would share a word of what transpired.

Even if the Hobbit was lacking in almost every way, he did seem to respect the want for privacy on the matter, remaining near Jenna as they continued to travel. While her and Bilbo already got along well before, they hadn't separated much since the night prior. This was likely due to feeling a rift between themselves and the others now, no doubt from his own harsh words, Thorin realized.

He couldn't focus on that at the moment though, as their path graduated to more sharply jutting cliffs and crags, and he knew there was a decision to be made as he looked ahead. Going the alternate path over the mountains would take far too much time, even if it might have been the more stable route, but their option of the mountain pass was a crumbling, ancient thing, along the wall of a vast canyon. Though it was the standard for travel through the area if one didn't have a wagon to worry about, that didn't mean it was safe. A tiny slip would mean certain death here. The road narrowed down some ways forward, to barely more than the width of his shoulders, and Thorin wasn't sure if he even wanted to bother calling it a road at that point.

Either way, there was a fine drizzle coming down now, so he made the call before they got caught in worse weather. He could only imagine the nightmare it would be to traverse this rocky shelf in the middle of the storm that seemed to be looming nearer by the minute. If they moved now, there was a chance they could beat it.

Thorin glanced back at the others as he gave the orders to be wary of their footing from this point forward, and caught sight of Jenna.

Towards the back of the group, her eyes were wide as she stared at the canyon, then flicked her gaze towards the sky, and back to the path they were about to traverse. Her hands gripped the straps of her pack so tightly that her knuckles were white.

She looked terrified.

(That inkling of doubt squirmed wildly.)

Turning his attention forward, Thorin lead the Company on. They made it quite a way, maybe half an hour in, before the rain picked up and the clouds above grew heavier, and though he knew sunset was still some time away, the darkness around them was almost as if night had already fallen. They tread carefully across the stones as it grew slick, which might not have been too much of an issue if the wind hadn't also started buffeting violently. Thorin's hair whipped around wildly and he tossed it from his face to clear his view, glaring against the gust.

Lightning illuminated the clouds, closely followed by the great booming of thunder, shaking the ground. This was not a good place to be.

Thorin heard the sounds of panic behind him, whirling his head around just in time to witness Dwalin pulling the Hobbit backwards against the wall. That damned Burglar nearly fell off already? As much as Thorin was irritated by him, it wasn't as if he actually wanted him dead.

"We have to find shelter!" Thorin called over his shoulder to them, hoping the group would keep their eyes peeled for any place he might have missed. Any nooks big enough for all of them, or even caves, as perilous as they might be in the Misty Mountains. Something to get them out of this storm for a moment.

"Look there!" Balin said, pointing forwards.

A ledge, larger than some others, that appeared to lead into a cave.

Thorin continued onward to investigate, pausing at the wider outcrop of rock before the opening. It was foreboding and went against his better instincts, but they didn't have much of a choice unless they wanted to get swept off to their deaths by the storm. Balin came up beside him, closely followed by Dwalin, once more of the group had gathered on the ledge and he was able to get past.

"This will have to suffice," Thorin said grudgingly, glancing around the mountainside once more before stepping inside to investigate.

Dwalin went in with him first, taking a look around at the quiet darkness. It was standard fare for a cave, with sharp stalagmites and stalactites along the edges of the space, and he commented, "Looks safe enough."

Thorin was less convinced, Jenna's warnings hovering in his mind. While there were no Stone Giants yet, that did not mean he should let his guard down. "Search the back," he suggested. "Caves in the mountain are seldom unoccupied."

With a nod, Dwalin moved away to fetch the lantern that he knew Dori kept on his person, as the rest of the Company trickled inside to get out of the weather. Thorin kept a passive eye on them as they joined, mentally keeping count as he helped Dwalin check every corner once the lantern was lit, shedding a bit of light in the gloomy darkness. The others converged soon enough, but then Thorin heard Kili speak up to his brother from the cave's opening.

"I don't understand what's gotten her so spooked," Kili murmured to Fili, glancing back to the entrance. Of course, in such a confined space, the words were loud enough for all to hear. The two paused and shared a look, waiting at the threshold for the remaining few who had yet to enter, which by Thorin's count was just three – Bofur, Master Baggins, and Jenna.

A few more seconds passed before Kili's voice was heard again, this time calling for them to come inside because the storm seemed to be worsening. Thorin was just about to go see what was taking them so long when they finally appeared, thoroughly drenched. Naturally, their delay was curious in of itself, but seeing Jenna's demeanor made it even more so.

That frightened look had returned, even more potent than before. She was pale and seemed to be focused far too much on breathing, as though she was dizzy or verging on a panic.

For all that he was still irate with her for withholding information about Azog and their future encounter, Thorin garnered no pleasure from seeing her this way. Quite the opposite, in fact, and he was almost irritated that his first instinct was to go comfort her as she had comforted him not but a few days ago.

Gloín was eager to start a fire and dry off, but Thorin had to cut off that idea quickly, knowing the inhabitants of such mountainous areas could be attracted to it. Either the smell of the smoke or the light at the mouth of the cave could give them away, and that just wasn't an option. After, Thorin gave the call for everyone to rest up while the storm passed so they could be on their way come morning.

"We were to wait in the mountains until Gandalf joined us," Balin pointed out, obviously wary of going on ahead without the wizard. "That was the plan."

"Plans change," Thorin replied firmly, then turned to the group that had just come inside. "Bofur, take the first watch."

The ones closest to Jenna were still casting looks of concern in her direction every once in a while as they all found spots to settle for the night. For due reason, it seemed, as the young woman hadn't regained any color on her cheeks and appeared to have minute tremors despite it not being overly cold. He didn't think the rain was chilly enough to be the culprit here, and it wasn't impossible that she was getting sick either. Perhaps he should ask after her, he thought. Just to be safe.

She was crouched near the middle of the cave, next to the wall, unpacking her bedroll when Thorin made his way over. As she wasn't facing him, it took her a moment to register his presence, glancing over her shoulder with a look that was hard to decipher once she realized it was him.

Instead of over-analyzing her odd expression, Thorin took a seat on the floor against the wall next to her, close enough to make it clear that he wanted to speak with her, but not so close that she would be uncomfortable. Though she hadn't particularly seemed to mind proximity to him before, their grounds right now were shaky at best and it would be wise not to push it.

He decided the Iglishmêk would be most suitable, as any conversation in this cave would be heard easily, and signed to her, 'You look unwell.'

This probably could have been worded better.

'Rude,' she signed back. It didn't escape his notice that there were fine tremors in her hands as she did so.

Of course, Thorin hadn't meant to insult her. He tried to rephrase it, saying, 'If you are sick – '

Jenna shook her head, casting a look to the ceiling as her eyes rolled in exasperation. He automatically bristled before shoving his irritation down with some effort, not willing to get into an argument in this cave during a storm with a potentially ill woman.

To his surprise, she seemed to reign herself in a bit to respond more politely, making it all the more obvious that her nerves were frayed for some reason. 'Sorry,' she apologized, with slight guilt on her features. 'I am not sick. Thank you for asking.'

Well. Then what was wrong? She was certainly not acting in the norm.

'You are behaving oddly,' he stated then, hoping that would be less offensive to her than his other inquiries apparently were.

There was a long moment of deliberation from Jenna as she watched him, scanning his face. It was like there was an arduous internal debate taking place that he wasn't privy to, and he wondered if that little crease in her brow had anything to do with their argument the other day. He hadn't been the most delicate in that situation, but given all that she claimed would befall his Company, his outburst felt more than warranted. Days had passed and they still had no plan to deal with Azog, should he show his accursed face.

It was a long moment before Jenna responded.

'Something has changed again.' She was slightly curled in on herself as she signed, whether for secrecy from the others or from hesitancy, he wasn't sure. The news was somewhat alarming, as they hadn't been communicating thoroughly recently so it could mean any number of things. Jenna's frown went bitter before she backtracked and added, 'You will not believe me.'

He experienced a slight pang of guilt, remembering Balin's words about the situation. There was no good way to both believe and yet disbelieve her. As skeptical as he was of the objectively far fetched events she spoke of, the Pale Orc was too much of a potential threat to keep pushing Jenna away with these arguments. Thorin opened his mouth automatically, feeling an apology on his tongue, before remembering the quiet of the cavern, cutting it off with a hesitant sigh instead.

Seeing his hesitation, the woman seemed to regain a sliver of confidence that he wanted to hear her out, and so she continued to motion, 'I know I have asked a lot of you. But I did not lie. Not even out of anger.'

The genuineness covering her expression was hard to dispute.

'I am acting odd because I am afraid,' she pushed on to admit, somehow appearing both vulnerable and yet determined to explain. 'The giants were meant to appear, and they did not. Now I am worried something is wrong.'

With or without the Stone Giants, this dilemma between them needed to be fixed. Thorin had urged Jenna to come forth with what she knew, in the middle of a heated conversation, and she was sticking by what she said. Even if it turned out now that she was utterly insane, it was he who encouraged these fantastical admissions, telling her she had his support as a confidante, not even revoking the offer once he learned about the storybook angle of things. He dug his own hole in this situation, and now she was hurt that he didn't believe her.

He wanted to calm her for the time being, knowing rest would be the best thing for her nerves right now, and then in the morning… Maybe – perhaps – they could try this again and get some apologies out of the way. Before they set off again, Thorin would speak to her, but preferably somewhere with more privacy.

'You said it might change. So perhaps it has,' Thorin signed, ready to bring this talk to an end and sleep so that daybreak would arrive sooner. He was tiring of the additional stress and, though not that he would admit it at the moment, also wished to have his dining partner back. 'Sleep. We shall talk tomorrow.'

While Jenna didn't necessarily object, she did seem a little put-off by the abrupt end to the conversation. He hoped that his stoicism wasn't coming across as completely dismissive, and he settled down for the night right where he was, deciding to stay nearby just in case… Well, he wasn't sure what for, but it didn't feel proper to leave her fretting here all night by herself when she had no one else to turn to with her concerns.

Hm. Yes, maybe an apology was more in order than he thought.

Regardless, after laying with his back to the wall and facing out towards the others as they slept, he heard the shuffling sounds of Jenna preparing to lay down as well. It took her a moment to get comfortable, though as one of the last ones to do so, the cave grew quieter once she had. Not that it was ever silent with the snores of their companions, but it was almost peaceful when combined with the sound of the rain outside.

Thorin dozed lightly and a bit sporadically, unable to fully relax with all the thoughts bounding through his mind. He wasn't sure how long he fought to keep his eyelids closed when he heard more rustling noises, though not from the direction of Jenna this time. It sounded like it was coming from across the cavern and just seemed to be one of the Company, maybe tossing around in their sleep. When the noise died off, Thorin didn't think much of it. At least until –

"Where do ye think you're goin'?"

He tensed as Bofur's quiet question echoed slightly in the small cave.

"Back to Rivendell." The Hobbit, then.

Once again, for the umpteenth time in so many hours, Thorin found himself hounded by his own internal conflicts.

Bofur was clearly attached to their burglar, so it wasn't entirely a surprise when he quietly pleaded, "No, no, ye can't turn back now, eh? You're part of the Company – you're one of us!"

"I'm not though, am I? I know you heard it yesterday, I'm sure everyone did. Thorin said I should never have come and he was right," Master Baggins said. "I'm not a Took, I'm a Baggins. I don't know what I was thinking. Should never have run out my door."

"You're homesick, I understand," Bofur said sympathetically, trying to change the other's mind.

The response was a harsh one, the stress getting to the otherwise mild-mannered Hobbit as he attempted to keep his volume down, whispers turning sharp, "No, you don't! You don't understand, none of you do. You're Dwarves. You're used to – to this life! To living on the road, never settling in one place, not belonging anywhere!"

With the last two words coming out louder and more brusque than was surely intended, there was a moment where the cave fell quiet. During the silence, Thorin noted that Jenna's breathing had changed while he'd been engrossed in the conversation across the space. He wondered if she was having another nightmare, given how the pattern picked up as though she were frightened. It wouldn't be all that surprising with how tightly wound she was before she'd lain down.

"Look, I – I'm sorry. I didn't – " The burglar cut himself off and cleared his throat.

"No, you're right," was the quiet, sad reply. "We don't belong anywhere." Bofur was a kind-hearted dwarrow who wore his feelings on his sleeve and tried to befriend even the most outcast of sorts, so hearing such despair from him was a stark reminder of why Thorin was here. Reclaiming their homeland of Erebor had never felt so vital.

"You certain you don't want to let the rain settle a bit more first, at least?" Bofur asked softly.

Another pause, as the Hobbit gave a slight shake of his head. "I'll manage. Next watch is Ori, and I just… I don't think he'll understand."

It seemed like the conversation had come to its end, with Bofur stepping forward to pat the other's shoulder one last time.

Of course, Thorin's thoughts on the matter were cut short when Jenna's breaths were no longer ignorable, turning into downright hyperventilation.

Bofur continued, "I wish you all the luck in the world. I really do."

Putting an elbow under himself, Thorin sat up on it enough to turn her way, no longer caring if the other two noticed he was awake. Upon hearing him moving, Jenna tilted her head in his direction, revealing that not only had she not gone to sleep, but she was also verging on a panic again. When he sat up completely, it garnered Bofur and Bilbo's attention, though only one of them froze so thoroughly that they could have been mistaken for a statue.

Jenna's face was paler even than before. She seemed to be fighting to regain her composure, shaking her head and scrunching her eyes closed in frustration when she realized she'd invoked their worry.

"Jenna?" Thorin asked after her. "What – ?"

The earth around them rumbled, merely sounding at first like thunder very close by, but continued in ferocious, sporadic bursts. Jenna shot up from her bedroll and started looking around the cave in confusion, staring at the floor for a moment as her brow crinkled further and another shockwave struck, rattling their very bones. The rest of the Company had woken by that point, alarm on their faces as they shook off the remaining sleep to sit up as well, eyes darting about for the source of the quakes.

Next to him, Jenna had twisted to face him again, eyes wide and hands trembling more than ever as she signed, 'Different.'

He met her panicked stare briefly before he was on his feet.

From nearby, Dwalin had launched to stand as well, calling out, "What's going on?!"

"It sounds like an Earthquake," was all Thorin could guess, before something tickled at the back of his mind. A suspicion grew as someone else spoke up.

"It sounds like it's comin' from out here!" Bofur announced from the front of the cavern next to the doorway. Beside him, Master Baggins exchanged glances with Thorin across the cave, knowing he'd been caught trying to leave. Thankfully for both of them, there were bigger things to worry about. They could deal with that later.

Without waiting for instruction, the miner and most of the others gathered near the mouth of the cave, bumping into each other as they filtered out to try and see what was going on in the canyon. Thorin felt that niggling reminder in his brain though, casting a quick look at Jenna's trembling, anxious form as he considered all that she had told him, before crossing the cavern himself. He shuffled through the crowd of his Company, through the entryway to the wide ledge, and stepped back into the rain.

The storm still raged on, making it difficult to see or hear much beyond the sheets of showering water, but… There was, unmistakably, movement in the mountains, from the direction they'd come earlier that day.

Or rather, movement of the mountains.

A crack of lightning across the sky illuminated the largest being that Thorin had ever set eyes upon, perhaps even more massive than Smaug himself. Made entirely of stone and rock, and as tall as the Misty Mountains, the earth shook with each step this creature took.

"Bless me… The legends are true!" Bofur gasped out as they all stared in awe. "Giants! Stone Giants!"

Thorin blinked against the pelting rain.

Stone Giants.

A boulder soared across the air high above the Dwarves, smashing into the giant they had been watching and knocking its head clean off with a thunderous crash. Looking to the source of the flying debri, they found another one of the creatures peeling itself out of the mountains to come forth and join this fight.

From beside Thorin, as another boulder was sent flying and the ground vibrated dangerously, Balin said, "I'm not sure this is the safest of places at the moment."

"Aye," Thorin replied breathily, mind still reeling from what this meant. He turned to the others that were gawking, though understandably so, and directed sharply, "Back inside, all of you! This is no place to be!"

He could tell it was difficult for some of them to tear their eyes away from the massive battle in front of them, but it became more urgent when one of the giants in front of their cave was wounded and its knees gave out. The Stone Giant's body groaned as it leaned ominously in their direction.

"Go! Get back!" Thorin shouted, hustling the remaining few back inside the cave just in time.

As the giant's leg crashed into the side of the mountain and blocked the cave entrance, the Dwarves and Thorin himself were knocked off their feet by the collision jarring the cavern. Rocks and dust tumbled from the ceiling onto their heads, resulting in coughs that echoed through the darkness, barely discernible over the sound of the grinding stone on the entryway. The rumbles pulled away from the entrance slowly as the being fell to the ground outside, shaking the mountains once more when its body hit the canyon floor.

Thorin had landed none too gracefully in a pile consisting of several others, as they'd barely had time to reach safety before tumbling. There was the distinct noise of Dori and Nori bickering about who landed on who first, while Balin rolled out of the mess with a beleaguered grumble of his own.

"Is anyone hurt?" Thorin asked, getting up to at least a kneeling position so he was able to properly look around.

A chorus of 'No's and 'Nay's and a few noncommittal groans were the reply.

Near the middle of the cave next to Fili and Kili, he spotted Jenna, who was on her hands and knees, obviously also having fallen onto the sandy cave floor. When their eyes met, she didn't seem like she wanted to gloat upon being right after all, nor did she even have a hint of smugness on her face. If anything, she just seemed more worried and anxious, and perhaps a bit regretful. It was clear she didn't want to be here, in this terrifying situation.

What Thorin didn't know was just how much more terrifying it was about to get.

In his peripheral, a small light caught his attention. He looked over to see the barely visible glow peeking from the top of the Hobbit's scabbard. Master Baggins had landed on his backside and was in the middle of sitting up when Bofur, on the ground next to him, spoke up.

"What's that?" asked Bofur in confusion.

Master Baggins paused, glancing down at the gleaming near his hip. He gripped the handle of his sword and unsheathed a small portion, not enough to fully free the blade, but enough to bathe the cavern in an eerie blue glow.

A chill ran down Thorin's spine and he stood, quickly barking out, "On your guard!" No sooner had the words left his mouth than there was a clunking sound from beneath them, a seam appearing in the floor as sand slipped through a crack of some sort. It clicked for him then, what was about to happen, as the ground shuddered. There was no time for them to escape.

In the split second he had left, Thorin snapped his gaze back to where Jenna was. Those wide green eyes told everything.

She knew what this cave was when they stopped.

She knew to be afraid. Not just of the Stone Giants. But of this.

She knew.

Then the ground opened up, and they were falling.

---

:)

Finally! Holy shit, we're finally here.

Hoping this chapter lived up to your expectations. I always enjoy exploring Thorin's thoughts on things as they happen in this story, though it can be a challenge! A welcome challenge, but definitely a challenge. LoL it's also hard to gauge when a Thorin perspective is warranted, because tbh I don't want to backtrack too much, but there's also certain scenes I just really want to include. Also! I'm trying to make it clear that Thorin's attraction to her has nothing to do with her slight weight loss, so hopefully that's coming across right. (She's not going to be like a model or anything, I just do think she'd lose a bit of chub after going from mostly sedentary to being so active suddenly.)

Anyways, work has been picking up due to holidays nearing, so the next chapter will probably be closer to three weeks rather than two this time. (Which tbh isn't the worst, but ugh I wish I had more time to write.) But double-also, I suppose that means the Goblin Tunnels will be sort of a Halloween special since it will be almost that time? Didn't mean to do that, but sure! LOL

Pleasepleaseplease pretty please let me know what you thought of this one! I'm having so much fun writing again and seeing all your familiar usernames pop back up! It's wild how grateful y'all make me feel, I literally don't know what to do with myself half the time when I see your lovely words.

As always, see y'all next time!