A Tale of Time

Chapter 8: False Foretelling

"She will be fine," Gandalf says, nodding to the King. "There is no danger in moving her."

Thorin nods to his nephew, silently confirming his order. Fili clenches his jaw, not feeling good about moving her but he has no choice and if they wizard says it is fine, then Fili trusts his judgement. Gandalf has known Gailien for longer than all of them after all.

Fili scoops the girls up and out of the mud, struggling as her body is stiff rather than limp and placid. It makes it harder for the dwarf to move her around, but he manages, placing her stomach over the saddle. Ensuring she is secure enough, he mounts his own pony, holding both his and her reigns to lead her pony.

Thorin who is already back in his own saddle waits for his nephew to finish then renews the company's movement. A few dwarves spare looks at the girl as Fili holds her pony close in case she starts to slip again. Kili rides up on her other side, nodding to his brother in a silent acknowledgement to help.

After a few minutes pass, Gailien at last is able to bring her mind into the present. She grunts in disorientation, grasping the edge of the saddle. Her breathing becomes escalated at what she has just seen. It was no random image.

"You alright?"

Gailien lifts her head to find Kili's concerned gaze meeting her own. She nods, pushing herself up to an upright seat in the saddle. She searches for the reigns, finding them in the older brother's hands. She takes them back, giving Fili and appreciative smile but it does not stay on her lips for long.

"Yes, I'm fine but I need to speak with Thorin."

One side of her body feels icky and heavy, covered in mud but luckily the rain is still heavy enough that it begins to wash off. She canters up the side of the company all the way up to Gandalf and Thorin who are naturally in the lead.

"Gailien, what is that you saw?" Gandalf inquires as the horse's hoofs slush in the mud, making her entrance rather noisy. Thorin waits for her to speak but he has an inkling that he will not like the words to leave her lips. Her eyes dart around to him and Gandalf, her cheeks rosy and her posture in disarray.

"I saw...Trolls," she stammers out. "Mountain trolls." She knows how unbelievable it sounds, considering trolls are found nowhere near their intended path, not with how south they are travelling. Thorin huffs, also thinking the same thing.

"This far from Ettenmoors?" He objects. "Not likely."

Gandalf is not so quick as the dismiss their Seer's foretelling. She is not yet powerful enough to see much beyond her own path. That is why she has had to accompany them after all, and not just provide counsel in passing. If she has seen trolls, they are on a possible path that will meet with them.

"What exactly did you see?" he presses. Thorin doesn't argue, listening.

Gailien's brows furrow as she remembers everything that passes through her mind just minutes ago. "They...they were travelling down. They made camp in the open, but I think they had a cave nearby."

"When is this supposed to come by?" Thorin asks. Maybe it is foolish of him to put her knowledge aside so quickly. However, Gailien isn't able to give him the answer he needs or wants.

"I don't know," she answers quietly. Her fingers fiddle with the reigns. "I'm not shown when these things come to pass, only that there is a possibility of them doing so."

"And the company? Did you seem them with the dwarves?"

"...No"

That is enough for Thorin, in his mind, to fully dismiss it. He needn't worry for trolls do not venture this far south as he had mentioned earlier, and the woman has no idea if it will be in two hours or two months. Then to add that she had not seen the company near the trolls – why, it a useless foretelling for him.

"Then I do not believe we should worry," he declares. His words are not harsh, but Gailien can't help but feel a short stab in her chest. She is worrying. Gandalf also shares her views.

"We shall keep an eye out for any sign of trolls," the wizard says, sparing a pointed look at the Dwarf King. Thorin nods, more so to satisfy the wizard and Seer so that they will not pester him any further.

Gailien observes that she is no longer needed, or likely welcome at the lead of the company and resigns back to the single file that the rest of the company has fallen into. She runs the vision through her mind again, hoping something else that is useful will make itself clear. Her intentions are not to prove Thorin wrong, but to prove her own usefulness besides a weather report.

"You look a little distraught, lass."

Her chin lifts as she falls in line with Bofur who talks to her loudly to be heard over the rain. Her eyebrow quirks for a moment with a pathetic laugh escaping from her lips. So, she looks exactly how she feels then.

"Just hate being wet," she replies, seeing no need to worry the other members of the company if their leader is not. She will not be the cause of argument. Cupping her hand to the sky, a small puddle of water forms in her palm and fingers. She lowers it to her neck, splashing it over and begins to rub her skin. The mud mixes, creating a water mixture that washes off with ease.

"Here, Mr Gandalf?" Dori who is riding in front of Gailien and Bofur speaks up. "Can't you do something about the deluge?" A puff of her blows out of her nose. If only, she wishes.

"It is raining, master dwarf. And it will continue to rain until the rain is done!" Gandalf declares. "If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another wizard."

Bilbo, though is slightly warmer than the rest of those around him, still wishes for nothing more at this moment than to be in Bag End near a warm fire. "Are there any?" he asks.

"What?"

"Other wizards?"

Bofur tries once again to smoke his pipe but the rain just continues to soak the thing. He sulks, stashing the pipe back away under his coat.

"There are five of us. The greatest of our order is Saruman, The White. Then there are two blue wizards." He pauses for a moment in thought. Gandalf has not spoken or heard about the two blue wizards that he has almost forgotten about their existence. "Do you know, I've quite forgotten their names."

Gailien listens with interest, loving tales from the mouths of others. She would love to read books but travelling light means that there is often not enough space in her pack to keep any. Back in Mirkwood, she was often found in the library through the middle of the night reading books on war history. The servants had been distraught knowing that the girl was reading things with such gruesome details.

"And who is the fifth?" Bilbo asks, hunching over slightly to cover himself even more from the rain.

"Well, that would be Radagast, the Brown," Gandalf answers. Thorin's ears twitch at the familiar name. They will be crossing paths with another wizard? He supposes that is not an entirely dreadful thing to happen. As long as he doesn't intend to prevent them from continuing.

Without thinking about his next words, or maybe he does but just does not care, Bilbo asks "Is he a great wizard or is he...more like you?"

Gailien barely manages to stifle her laughter, ending in a choking cough instead. Bofur snorts from beside her and even Thorin up ahead has a twitch in his lips from the hobbit's words. Bilbo is oblivious to the reaction his question elicits and awaits an answer from the wizard who is grumbling offendedly.

"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 forestlands to the East. And a good thing too, for always evil will look to find a foothold in this world."

Gailien, much like Bilbo, can't stop the next words coming out of her mouth. She is completely aware of their offence though. "Radagast is my favourite wizard," she declares loudly so Gandalf has no trouble hearing her. Her tone implies that she is speaking to the company in general, but her words are aimed at Gandalf. Of course, Radagast is definitely not her favourite out of the two wizards she has met but Gandalf's reaction is worth it. He scowls at her with narrowing eyes over his shoulder. Thorin, though it is hidden from the company, cannot help but break into a small fit of laughter under his breath.