Predator or Prey | The Hobbit

TWO

Selene shook her thought away and focused on the story. She peered up at Balin, catching a smile form on his face.

"A young, Dwarf Prince facing down the pale Orc. He stood alone against this terrible foe. His armor rent, wielding nothing but an oaken branch as a shield. Azog the Defiler learned that day that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken."

Fíli, Kíli and Bilbo gazed up at Balin. Now understanding why Thorin did not like the joke Kíli made and why he did not like orcs in general.

Balin continued, "Our forces rallied and drove the Orcs back. Our enemy had been defeated. But there was no feast nor song that night, for our dead were beyond the count of grief. We few had survived. And I thought to myself then... There is one I could follow. There is one I could call King."

The dwarves who were sleeping were now awake and looked to Thorin, their future King.

Bilbo had his knees up to his chest. "And the pale Orc?" He blinked. "What happened to him?"

Thorin answered Bilbo's question, walking through the empty middle spot the Dwarves made for him. "He slunk back into the whole whence he came. That filth died of his wounds long ago." He went back to his spot where he was sleeping before he was woken up.

"And his mate?"

"Rumors say that Nhel slit her own throat after Azog died. She was never seen again after her mate's death." Balin responded to Bilbo's question.

Then, it was quiet again. No one spoke a word, no one went back to sleep.

However, Selene thought about Balin's words of Nhel. Did the she-Orc really kill herself to be with her mate? Or were they still alive?

Selene thought about it until her head began to pound. So she leaned back against the tree and closed her eyes, hoping to fall asleep soon. That was until they shot right back open, she felt her eyes switch from gold to black. Black as the night. She shuffled towards the edge of the rock they all camped on and stayed still, not moving at all when Gandalf hollered for her.

"What's wrong?" Bilbo scurried over to the wizard, who was currently on his feet. He didn't get a reply. "Gandalf?"

Thorin marched over to where they stood, wanting to know what was going on. "What is she doing? What is she looking at?" Gandalf did not reply to him either.

Selene's face morphed into anger at the sight of the Orc pack across from them. There were at least eighteen of them. Most the orcs and their wargs flinched back in fear when they saw her. The leader, did not.

"Selene Drakos!" Gandalf bellowed out her full name. Selene's head looked over her shoulder. Where he saw her pitch black eyes change back to her normal ones.

The skin-changer strode towards the group of three and gave them a reassuring look, "My apologies." She bowed slightly. "I saw a movement and thought it was something dangerous... But it was only an elk." She left it at that.

* * *

Across from them where another ledge, were a scout pack of Orcs and their wargs growling hiding behind the trees.

"The dragon woman saw us." One of the orcs panicked. "She knows that we are here!" The orc earned a hit to the head by the one who was leading the pack.

He snarled after the skin-changer left her spot across from them.

"Send word to the Masters, we have found the Dwarf-scum and the Dragon-woman." The leader of the pack ordered the Orc behind him. He did not argue with the leader and took off.

* * *

The next morning, the Company were up a little bit after dawn. They were ready to move forward, but Selene and Bilbo were still asleep. Selene did not fall asleep until she knew the orcs from last night were gone. They did not leave until they saw the smoke coming from out her nose, and that was a dangerous sign to them. Bilbo did not sleep either, too curious on what Selene was looking at when she was focused on the dark cliff across from them.

Thorin demanded for Ori to wake up Bilbo, before he looked at Selene's sleeping figure by the tree. He was contemplating on if he should let Ori wake her up or now, fearing that she might get angry and lash out on him. He then spotted Gandalf walking passed him.

"Gandalf!" His voice grabbed his attention. "Wake her up." He motioned with his head at Selene. The wizard nodded. Thorin decided to watch him, to see how to wake the dragon-woman, without making her angry.

Gandalf bent his back, using his long arms to touch Selene's upper arm before shaking her gently. "Selene, it is time to wake up, my dear." He stood straight again as Selene's eyes slowly blinked open. The wizard walked away towards Thorin, once her golden eyes were fully opened and she sat up.

"That's all you have to do." Gandalf patted Thorin's shoulder when he walked passed. Thorin could only shake his head.

Rain began pouring from the dark clouds above, hours after the Company left from where they camped over the night. They were traveling through a small forest, the rain soaking most of their clothes, hair and their belongings.

Selene's hair, her body and her dress were soaked. Bilbo and Gandalf as well. Did they not have any cloak or some sorts to protect themselves from the rain. Selene did not like her clothes getting wet, but she had to ignore it, blaming herself for not bringing a cloak or a tunic. Luckily for her, the warmth of her body from her dragon would keep her warm enough until the rain stopped.

"Mister Gandalf!" Dori shouted from behind. "Can't you do something about this deluge?"

"It is raining, Master Dwarf, and it will continue to rain until the rain is done." Gandalf simply replied. Selene couldn't help but chuckle at him, for he did not control the weather. "If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another wizard."

"Are there any?" Bilbo asked.

Gandalf was confused. "Any what?"

"Other wizards."

Gandalf nodded, "There are five of us. The greatest of our order is Saruman the White. Then there are the two blue wizards... Do you know? I've quite forgotten their names." Gandalf peeked over his shoulder at Bilbo.

Bilbo sat up, "And who is the fifth?"

"Well, that would be Radagast the Brown."

"Is he a great wizard? Or is he more like you?" Bilbo asked again. He was so new to this world and Selene knew this journey would not make him an innocent hobbit no more. Bilbo still had so much to learn.

Gandalf turned his upper body to face Bilbo, "I think he's a very great wizard. In his own way. He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals to others. He keeps a watchful eye over the vast forest lands to the east. And a good thing too, for always evil will look to find a foothold in this world."

Bilbo remained quiet, letting the conversation end so everyone could travel in peace.

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can't wait to write the scene w the trolls!
lmk of any grammar mistakes i made.
vote/comment <3