A Tale of Time

Chapter 12: The Chase

He catches up to the rest of the company quickly enough, grunting under the extra weight but he is grateful for her small build. Once again, Gandalf orders them to press against a large rock formation as he sees one orc and warg stray from the pack towards their direction. The orc unsheathes his sword, circling the rock while still riding.

Thorin turns slightly to his youngest nephew Kili who has been watching Gailien with concern as she is perched on his uncle's back. With his eyes, Thorin gestures to Kili's bow. Kili silently pulls an arrow from his quiver, loading it. He steps out from the cover the rock provides, aiming his bow up at the warg standing above them.

The arrow is quickly released, finding a new home in the warg's shoulder. Thorin and some of the company lookup as it continues to squeal and Kili load another, shooting its other side. The warg stumbles from the pain, sending it, and its rider off the side of the rock. Gailien wakes at this moment, her eyes blinking rapidly to try and make sense of what she has seen, and now what is in front of her.

The orc squaws, jumping off his mount and runs towards the dwarves. Gailien realises that she is on somebody's shoulder and leans up. Thorin, feeling her move, lets go of her legs and Gailien falls to the side on the ground.

Dwalin runs out first to meet the orc, followed by Bifur. Now free of the extra luggage, Thorin joins in, supported by Kili with his bow and they take down both the warg and the orc. But at a price.

Gailien runs forward to Gandalf who is looking out onto the horizon. "They are going to have heard that," she hisses, trying to see the orc party for herself. While the dwarves have taken out one enemy – a necessary action, the orc and his ride's cries will have no doubt, alerted the others to their location. Gailien sees them now, small figures moving over the plain faster than they can run.

"We need to move!" she yells, running back to the company. They have no cover now and Gailien stays with Bilbo who has miraculously been able to keep up with little issues. As they sprint, Kili matches her pace.

"What did you see?" he asks loudly to be heard over the wind brushing past their ears as they sprint. Gailien doesn't answer but looks to Thorin up ahead. Kili follows her gaze. Gailien wonders if he will listen to her this time.

They continue running until they reach the top of a small incline, allowing them to see into the distance further. "There they are!" Gloin exclaims, pointing at the moving party. They change their direction slightly, running back down a hill and the dwarves spread out slightly over the plain. Gailien sticks with Thorin, her instincts telling her that she needs to be for this is almost exactly where her vision took place.

Two orcs riding wargs leap into view and Thorin grunts in surprise, faltering back. Gailien unsheathes her weapons, holding them in front of her as she moves to stand at his side. Kili runs towards his uncle from another direction. "There's more coming!" he yells.

Thorin turns in circles as the company becomes surrounded. "Kili!"

Gailien darts her eyes around, taking in the positions of a select few members that she wants to keep an eye on. Fili is not far off to her right with Bofur, and Kili is behind her, and Bilbo is in the middle closest to her. "Thorin!" The King turns his head to her acknowledging he is listening but does not answer. "You need to listen to Gandalf," she says. "We need to follow him when he says to."

Thorin clenches his jaw but he listens. He had ignored her with the trolls, and they paid the price. But at this time, he would rather face the orcs than the Elves. Gailien lets out a short, strangled cry to herself when Thorin doesn't answer her. Again, he doesn't listen to her but what she has seen is not something she can let come to pass. She must make him change his mind.