Chapter 29

Walking into the entrance of the cave, I give it a quick look around before walking in. It's a typical cave; Jagged rocks grow from the ceiling, cracks line the walls, and the floor is littered with little stones and sand. There are no bugs or bats however. No animals in sight... the dwarves should know- DO know that the caves around here are rarely empty. Strange that they would still pick such a place so freely.

My attention is drawn to the goblins 'front porch.' If you didn't know to look for it, the line cutting through the center of the cave would be all but invisible. Should I warn them about that...

"At least it is dry..."

Bilbo's whispered comment reminds me that we do need to be here. Falling won't be fun but it'll get him to the ring and cut down time. I'm supposed to be a Seer though... I feel like a Seer would know... Rather see something and forewarn the group about killer goblins. I need to warn them without giving them a strong enough reason to leave... I need tact, something I don't have.

"There is a dry place for ye in the very back, Lassie." Blinking, I turn towards Bofur's voice. He sits by the entrance, a few feet away, with a pipe in his mouth "Set it aside just for ye."

"I don't need you to take care of me. I can take care of myself."

"Didn't say ye couldn't."

"I-"

"The choice is yers. Will ye go out into the rain now, to prove ye are strong? Get washed down the side of the mountain, all the way back to Rivendell?"

"..."

"No, I suppose ye wouldn't. That wouldn't be taking care of yerself, would it?"

"The hell do you want from me, Bofur?"

"I want ye to rest." pointing towards the back again with his pipe, the dwarf looks out into the stormy night "Ye saved my hide today, so just follow that little crack there and go on to sleep."

"Fine... but it doesn't look little to me." Ignoring his thanks, I gather my thoughts. I can work with this. Placing a foot on the crack, I began following it "I have a bad... Feeling about this place."

"Now ye go on to bed and leave the worrying to the others."

Rolling my eyes, I do as instructed. Walking passed the entire company one by one, I settle down in the very back of the cave. It is there that I begin to worry. The dwarves have heads like rocks; Bilbo is super lucky; what about me? How the hell am I supposed to survive this drop without breaking every bone-

"You are worried, Lady Atina."

Frowning at the interruption, I give Dwalin my attention. He's still trying to figure out what to call me; I can all but feel him tasting each of my names and titles on his tongue. We haven't been able to talk much lately and we won't have the chance again for a while. He hovers at the edge of my space before I give him a nod at the place a few feet from me. Taking it up quickly, the dwarf pins me with a stare.

"What has you so ill at ease?"

"... The higher we go, the more worried I am about falling off this stupid Mountain. Pressing my lips together I gesture to those around me. "I'm not saying you all are indestructible but... You'd survive a higher drop than I could."

"Have you seen something to worry you so?"

"It isn't always a seeing type of thing." Closing my eyes, I drag my hand over the crack in the floor. This all will mean nothing to him until tomorrow when it's too late but it's a nice set-up I'm making. The Seer thing will be reinforced, they will continue to need me, and I will get what I want... So why do I feel so uncomfortable about deceiving them? Shaking my head I continue with the conversation "Sometimes instead of seeing something, I'll just get a bad feeling."

"And you have that feeling now?"

"I have a feeling that getting down this mountain will be more treacherous than getting up it."

"I will inform Thorin of-"

"Yeah, sure. You do that but what about us?"

"Us."

"Yea, US. The only reason in really here."

"There will be time later."

"Dwalin- aaaand he's gone."

Having gotten the important information he needed from me, the dwarf returns to the king's lap. I feel used but since I'm doing the exact same thing, I can't feel too bad about it. Sighing deeply, I pull out the bare minimum I need for a short nap, knowing we won't be here long. If I had a helmet, I'd wear it. Lacking that piece of equipment, I can only hope I don't die on the way down.

Dwalin POV

Watching this Oracle from the corner of my eye, I keep the majority of my focus on my king. I have not lied. There will be time for our healing later. For now, I must focus on the quest.

"It is just a feeling but I would proceed with caution."

"How much more cautious can we be?"

Rubbing a hand down his face, my cousin throws a tired glare at the twitchy form of the halfling. In his worry, he spoke cruelly to the weaker creature. Some truths should remain unspoken, if only to keep the peace. I do not believe that Master Baggins should have come with us on this journey but come he has and arguing about it now means nothing. It can only hurt the company.

"I cannot order the winds and rain to cease any more then I can command the Earth to remain unbroken. I know not how to avoid natural Calamity other than to be cautious."

"Then we will continue to do so."

"They will need to the most care. Keep them in the center when we move." Watching the smallest members of the company, he continues. "We are nearly halfway through this. Everything from here will be easier. However, do not allow anyone to become overconfident."

Offering a nod, we share a quiet moment. We are doing well on time and our supplies keep us fed well enough. Yet, the company is exhausted. And this path, while so far free of enemies, is quite the trek. I'm surprised that the Hobbit has made it this far. Atina Bloodstone... she is small and surprisingly frail, yet she is too stubborn to fail. I know not whether I should be worried. Leaning against the wall, I try to wind down for the night.

"Do not wait much longer, Dwalin. Make time for your Only."

The king's eyes are closed but his words prove his wakefulness. He knows what importance this seer holds for me and I, her. All will know soon enough. For all the knowing going around, one would think that I'd know how to handle her. Yet, I do not even know what to call her.

Looking at the girl, I cannot understand her. She is so young yet already she is full of anger and resentment. Watching her, I cannot help but become angry. What was done to her is an unspeakable experience and has damaged her ever greatly. How can this wisp of a girl, hanging to get sanity by a thread, help me? ... How can I help her? I promised I would and yet I have no idea how to. Grunting in acknowledgment of my king, I try to rest.

I have barely started to doze when the hissing sound of shifting sand pulls my tired eyes open. Looking on in confusion, I watch the sand rush towards the center of the cave. It feels the thin crevice quickly before the very ground begins to split.

"Get up!"

A curse from the Oracle is all I need to start over to her spot. The Earth cracks open just as I make it to her and she tumbles into my arms as we begin to fall. The closeness causes her to shriek and push against me but I hold tight. Turning so as to be a buffer between her and the rocks, I secure the girl in my arms, and pray for a soft landing.

Oh my God... oh my God... oh my God! Hi everybody it's been a while. I have graduated from BCT but I've still got other training. I'm home for Christmas break and I really wanted to get a chapter out before I went back. It felt kind of good to write. I don't have gone to do it there... Thanks for sticking around but old how long I'll be gone again. Probably not as long though. Anyway, I miss you all!