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centuryofdean · 4 years

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When Lightning Strikes - Chapter 11

Author Disclaimer:: The Hobbit, Middle Earth and its characters are not mine. I take no credit. The story line and even some dialogue–also not mine. Instead I claim my Original Character Laurel and the adjustments to the story line.

Summary:: From when Laurel Took was small she dreamed of a man. Every time she dreamed of him, he could not see or hear her. Over time they are able to communicate–but he’s been dreaming about her too. Finally after years of anticipation Laurel takes the leap and kisses him. Only for her to wake up and dread the real world. Then lightning strikes and she finds herself in a familiar place, with a familiar face.

Rated:: M for Mature. Please do not read this story unless you are 18+ At this point in the story there isn’t much, but later on the M rating will come into effect.

Warnings:: Language, Violence and Scenes of Sexual Nature

Pairing:: Kili x OC (Laurel)

Laurel

We were so close to the Misty Mountain that Thorin demanded we find refuge in it the following night. Once we actually reached the top of the mountain, it started to storm heavily. Normally I would pay no mind to a storm but it was chilly and the wind was blowing everything around like crazy. It was literally raining sideways.

Kili was in front of me while Bilbo was behind me, Fili following. The brothers were worried about each of us, so they were trying to ensure nothing would happen.

The world started to shake around us like an earthquake. Bilbo slipped due to the rain, almost falling over the edge of the ridge we were on if it were not for Fili and I grabbing onto his pack.

"We've got to find shelter," Thorin bellowed over the gust and storm.

I second that notion. We started to trudge on when something enormous caught my eye, soaring through the air just above us. "Is that a piece of boulder," I wondered softly. It crashed against the mountain above us, everything shook once more and we all leaned back into the mountain for support.

"This is no thunderstorm," Balin cried out, "it's a thunder battle!"

On the opposing mountain in front of us I could see it shake as well. Something was moving; coming apart from the mountain. It was larger than anything I had seen before, if I had a word for it I would say it was a giant. The creature was make out of the rocky edges of the mountain. It staggered to a standstill stature before it leaned forward and wiggled another chunk of rock out.

"I'll be blessed," Bofur took a few steps forward, "the legends are true. Giants! Storm giants!

The giant threw the clump of mountain it had in it's hand and threw it in our direction. We all ducked, turning into the rocks behind us to try and face away from any on coming destruction.

Tremors traveled through my feet and into my bones. When I looked down I could see the ground beneath me was cracking and tearing apart. My eyes looked up to see Kili finding out the same thing. "Laurel," he called, offering me his hand. Before I could even think about accepting his hand Fili had grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled me away from danger.

The look of pure terror his eyes screamed across the chasm in from of me was heart retching.

Equally divided, the group was staring at the other side in horror. We were being separated.

Everything seemed to transpire in slow motion. The piece of mountain Fili, Bilbo, Ori, Nori, Bombur, Dwlain and myself were on was actually a giant. We moved when it moved almost making me sick to my stomach from the motion.

I didn't know where we started or where we ended.

Suddenly another part of the mountain was coming up close and fast. Preparing myself I took a stance and waited for the impact.

Like a car crash we were thrown. I collided with the others, trying to bite back my groan of discomfort. In seconds the other group came to us, laughing with glee that we were reunited.

"Everyone alright," Balin asked helping up some. I accepted the hand that Bofur gave me. In turn I helped up Ori.

"Everyone, this way," Thorin declared once more as we followed him into a crevice of a cave.

Inside it was dry, and we were able to light a candle that Oin had stashed away for such occasions. Our leader stated it would be best to stay for the night and wait out the storm before departing the mountain. Soon everyone found a spot on the sandy cave floor and rested, falling asleep.

I was about to join them in the land of sleep, before I felt something land in front of my face.

A very large foot. Bilbo. He was heading towards the entrance to the cave carrying his bag. I had to detangle myself from Kili before raising and trying to tip toe around everyone.

"Bilbo," I whispered, "what are you doing?"

"Leaving."

My brow furrowed in confusion, "Why?"

"Elrond said I could stay in Rivendell until I am ready to return home. It is no secret that Thorin is not fond of me," he looked around everywhere but myself, "of us."

"That may be true, but it doesn't matter none the less. You agreed to help them."

"Thorin could not care less if I left or not," he muttered, "you could come with me."

Back to the beautiful place we just left? That would not be something I would oppose to, but my head turned, seeking out the black haired archer that slept so easily in the middle of the night. "I can't," I whispered. I only had just found him, I could not just abandon him.

"Thorin already forbade anything between the two of you," he whispered, taking a step forward to grasp my arm. "Why be somewhere where you are not welcome? Why continue on to this journey knowing that you would have to turn around and come live with me anyway?"

"Elrond said the heart of the—"

The ground beneath us started to slowly sink, as if the sand were slipping through an hour glass. Just to my left was my pack and weapons. I made no haste as I grabbed them and positioned myself with all of them on. Bilbo was backing against the wall of the cave, dragging me with him. I then noticed the odd blue light emitting from his sword. "What the hell is that doing," I muttered as we were staring at it in awe.

Thorin jumped from where he lay, "Everyone, get up!"

Just as some of the dwarves started to wake, the floor beneath us opened up and swallowed them whole. I was standing on the wrong part about to fall through as well when Bilbo grasped me and pulled me back.

"Oh no," I moaned, "they are all gone." The floor slowly started to rise again and closed as if nothing had even happened.

"Drats," Bilbo muttered as he started to pace around. "We can't leave them here either."

"Alright let's try to see if we can find them."

We walked around for what seemed like hours. One walkway led to another and that led to a turn around. It was like a stupid maze. I always hated mazes. Deep in my chest I worried of Kili, but I knew he was more than capable of taking care of himself. He could take better care of himself than I could take of myself. Right now I needed to focus on taking care of Bilbo.

Finally we came to a dead end that dropped off into a pit.

"Maybe we should go down there," I whispered.

"Are you mad? Of course not. We don't know where it goes or anything!"

"Exactly! It could go to where the others are at," I muttered, "if it doesn't then we can try and climb back up, it isn't too far of a jump, maybe ten feet."

Without more preamble I jumped into the darkness and landed softly on my feet. Soon after Bilbo followed me. It was a pit indeed filled with what looked like a graveyard. There were all sorts of bones lying about. Some skeletons were complete and others were odds and ends. Immediately chills traveled from the nape of my neck to the balls of my feet. Laying in the middle was another creature that I did not want to look at.

It looked like a mini troll if anything. It's skin was also gray and leathery, long pointed hair, but skinny and lying motionless.

"Do you think it's dead," I whispered.

Muttering could be heard from a distance. I quickly grabbed Bilbo and dragged him to hide with me in the shadows of a rock. A smaller creature, the size of Bilbo and I, came burling out of the shadows across from us. It half walked half slouched as it came up on the creature laying on the floor. Out of the corner of my eye I could make out the bright blue illumination of Bilbo's sword.

"Yes," a gravely hiss of a voice called out. My attention focused on the odd small creature that was just barely covered in a loin cloth. "We eats tonights."

It rounded on the other fallen creature, grabbing it by the legs and started to huff and groan as it dragged the other across the floor. Once it was out of sight we rose from our crouch. Bilbo was the first to move. He approached the entrance where the two things disappeared from. He crouched down and lifted a golden ring from the floor and gazed at it in the little light of the cave.

"Did that thing drop it," I asked. He nodded while he ran his thumb over it.

When I held out my hand to inspect it, Bilbo hesitantly dropped it into my palm. I threw him an odd look at his pause. Without even thinking I slipped it onto my middle finger, feeling the cool metal ice my entire hand. Breath left me in a rush, causing me to gasp and feel the chill all over. Everything around me lost saturation and was almost like a dreamlike state. Bilbo jumped erratically and looked all over. "Laurel," he whispered hurriedly, "where did you go?"

My brow furrowed, "I'm right here."

The Hobbit's eyes worked back and forth without focusing in one spot. Finally I tore off the ring, taking another gasp of breath as everything started to settle in correctly as it had been. Once more Bilbo jumped.

"Did the ring make you invisible," he asked astounded.

I shoved it back into his hands with the chill still fresh in my spine. "Take it," I muttered, "there is something not right about that thing. I don't want to be near it."

It was true. Something about the ring was harsh and made it so I couldn't breathe. I was suffocating with it on. Something to make you invisible? Even in my world that was a dangerous power to have, just because it would drive the wearer to near madness. I watched as Bilbo pocketed the golden beauty. We followed the dark path that we intended to with caution.

We came to a larger opened area. Rocks ranged to all different heights, some reaching to the ceiling and others so small I could pick them up and toss them. As we drew closer into the center of the cave we heard the thing speak again.

"The cold hard lands, they bites our hands, they gnaws our feet. The rocks and stones, they're like old bones, all bare of meat. Cold as death, they have no breath, it's good to eat!"

That thing was going to eat the other. A chill embraced my spine while I peered at the short creature. It used a rock to bash the head of the other one. A soft gasp escaped me. The thing turned on the spot looking in our direction. Bilbo pulled me back to the safety behind the rock. I peeked around the corner, only to find that it had disappeared.

As I turned to Bilbo, I screamed as two bright brilliant eyes starred at us just over his shoulder.

"Bless us and splash us, Previous! There are two meaty mouthfuls," it screamed out joyfully. Instinctively my hand reached for my sword, yanking it free and holding it in front of me. The shake that happened in my hands showed in the blade as it wavered before me.

"Ah. Gollum. Gollum. Ack!"

"Stay back," I muttered, "come any closer and I'll cut you open."

Bilbo did the same only his sword was shaking more noticeably than mine.

"It's got an elfish blade, but one is not all Elfs. What is thems, Precious?"

Bilbo lowered his sword, but I left mine high and raised—ready to swing it if need be. "My name is Bilbo Baggins," he offered, "and this is my friend Laurel Took."

"Bagginses? Tookies? What is a Bagginses and Tooksies, Precious?"

"I am a Hobbit from the Shire," he continued, "and Laurel is Elvish, Hobbit, and human…from a far away place."

The thing approached again leering at us from under his lack of lashes. "Oh! We like Goblinses, batses, fishes! We have nots tried Hobbitses, elfies, or humans," it screeched.

"Get the hell back," I snarled holding up the sword, "I told you I'd cut you wide open!"

Bilbo opened his palm in terms of offering peace, "We don't want any trouble, we just want to get out of here."

The thing started to mumble to itself and answer its own questions.

"I don't know what your game is—" Bilbo started.

"Games! We loves games, doesn't we Precious? Can we play games, please yes please?"

Games? Bilbo hesitantly answered before the thing held up it's hand and started to speak slowly and without its odd grammar. "What has roots as nobody sees, is taller than trees. Up, up, up it goes, and yet, never grows."

Riddles? Shit. I turned to Bilbo hoping he had a better idea of an answer than I. Riddles were never really my area of expertise. I knew some of the basic ones, but nothing like this.

"The mountain," Bilbo chuckled.

The thing laughed, and suddenly screamed about killing and jumped towards us. "No," I urged pointing my sword at its throat again, nearly touching it. "We want to play! Riddles! If we win, you show us the way out."

"Yes, yes," it urged on, "what if the Hobbites and the she thing loses? If it loses we will eats it."

The way that it said it so simply and easily I gapped openly. Damn filthy creature there was no way. If it even came close to us I'll gut it.

So it began. Each one of them going back and forth with riddles of their own. At one point it was almost clear that the thing wasn't going to know the answer. Sadly it answered with a laugh of it's own.

I fidgeted when it was Bilbo's turn and he was almost unable to answer. The creature crept closer and demanded that we had lost.

"Time! The answer is time," Bilbo sighed out relieved.

"Last questions. Last chances. And the she thingsie will askes it. If we guesses it, we eats thems," it whispered out in glee.

"Erm," I grumbled as I wavered my eyes to Bilbo. Hopefully this thing would not know the answer. "What gets broken without being held?"

The thing fidgeted now. Time seemed to drag on as it walked back and forth, looking around and mumbling to itself as it tried to form an answer. "Time is up," Bilbo stated looking all the more important and satisfied. "What's your answer?"

"Eggsies?"

"No," I smiled also satisfied with myself, "a promise, like you promised to show us the way out if we won. Where is it? Time to go."

Suddenly the thing smiled, reaching under it's loincloth for something. Instead it frowned, jumping around frantically. "Where is it? It's gone! NO!"

The ring. I grabbed Bilbo's elbow to discreetly pull him away. "We gotta go, now."

While the thing was running amuck all over looking on the ground Bilbo and I started at a run to find the nearest opening in the web of the cavern. We were gasping and huffing while we jogged down an entrance. In a crack at the end of the path I could see the dwarves running into a light.

"Bilbo! There! The company," I pushed him forward. We just barely managed to squeeze through. The sunlight blinded me as we stumbled down a large hill. We lost the dwarves, but since we were out of the mountain it shouldn't be difficult to find them.

Previous Chapter << Chapter 10: Pruned Gardens Bring Curious Deer

Next Chapter >> Chapter 12: Home Is Where the Heart Is

#the hobbit #the hobbit fanfiction #the hobbit fanfic #kili x reader #kili x oc #kili durin #when lightning strikes

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tolkienuntangled · 4 years

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Tolkien Fun Fact #1 - Gandalf for the Win!

When Gandalf the White came to the Grey Havens, the Third Age came to an end. When he set sail with the rest of the ring-bearers, a new Age of peace and prosperity began. And when he revealed the Ring of Fire upon his finger, the epic tales that began with Sauron and Celebrimbor 4963 years earlier, came to an end. For over 2000 years, Gandalf had wandered the wilds and counselled the wise. Over seventeen years he had discovered the truth of the One Ring, and identified it in Hobbiton. And over the span of two months he had died, come back from the dead, and then orchestrated the greatest victory that Arda had ever known. The Downfall of Sauron and the return of the King was the ultimate win for the peoples of Middle Earth, not to mention the Ainur who adhered to Ilúvatar's vision. And Gandalf was the architect of the whole thing!

So to fully comprehend the magnitude of Gandalf's contribution, let's go back to the very beginning of his time in Middle Earth. In fact we'll go back even further. Because the entire reason that Gandalf (and the other four Istar) were sent to Middle Earth in the first place, is because of how bleak things were looking at the end of the First Millennium of the Third Age. So pretty much every bad thing that happened in the First Age, happened because an Ainur went rogue and tried to dominate the world. By the Second Age that was done with, but another Ainur (Sauron this time) also went rogue, and he also tried to dominate the world. So when he was defeated and the Third Age began, the last thing anyone needed was more interference from the Ainur. For a brief moment, it looked like things might work out on their own. But this did not happen.

Within two years of Sauron's defeat, Isildur was dead and the One Ring was lost. Less than a millennia after that, Isildur's Kingdom of Arnor had fallen due to infighting, and it was divided into three rival nations. Things weren't looking good. So the Valar of the West decided that they'd help out Middle Earth one final time. But luckily they'd learnt from their mistakes. When they helped out against the first rogue Ainur, they flooded an entire continent. When they refrained from helping out against the second rogue Ainur, Eru Ilúvatar broke the world and changed it to a round planet. Again this flooded an entire Island. So this time they were hoping to avoid an apocalyptic flood entirely. And that's why the Istar were not sent as warriors to lead armies, but simply sent as mentors and counsellors. They had one job; to guide the Free Peoples in their battle against Sauron.

Now this may not sound too challenging, but apparently, it was. The two Blue Wizards disappeared into the East, and to be fair, we don't know enough about their actions to condemn them for anything. But Tolkien tells us that they did "most likely" fail. Saruman on the other hand we can most certainly condemn. He turned into another rogue Ainur and (shock) he also tried to dominate the world. So Saruman failed spectacularly. And Radagast, bless him, he just seemed to lose interest in his task. He never fell into darkness, but it turns out that befriending birds and beasts isn't quite enough of a contribution to be considered a success. He "turned aside from his appointed mission" and Tolkien tells us that Radagast was "not proud and domineering, but neglectful and easygoing," and thus he too failed. So with a failure rate that's now reached four out of five, there was an awful lot of pressure on Gandalf to pull victory out of the bag. And he did.

But he didn't do so with power or with pride. Gandalf's secret weapon throughout his two thousand years in Middle Earth was wisdom, and a profound appreciation for humility. We'll see this humility a few more times before the end.

So after meeting Glorfindel and Círdan at the Grey Havens, and after being given Narya - the Ring of Fire, Gandalf travelled throughout the West, refusing to settle down unlike Radagast and Saruman. And in this time, Gandalf acquainted himself with all the Free Peoples. And we know this by the many names he soon came to wear. When he went to the Elves, Gandalf became Mithrandir. When he went to the Dwarves he became Tharkûn. And when he went to the Men of the South he became Incánus. And for many many years Gandalf travelled the wilds; watching and waiting.

But while Gandalf waited, Middle Earth seemed to get worse. The Nazgûl returned to torment the world, a new shadow lengthened in Dol Guldur, plagues and dragons ravaged the Free Peoples, and beneath the Misty Mountains, a balrog awoke.

Now Gandalf did take an active role in slowing the spread of this shadow, and the White Council was formed to uncover the secrets of the Necromancer. But this is where we see Gandalf's humility come to the forefront of his character. You see Galadriel suggested to the White Council that Gandalf should be their leader. But he refused. And this echoes a similar moment thousands of years before, where Manwë (the King of the Valar) also appointed Gandalf (who was known back then as Olórin) to be one of the Istar. And again Olórin (initially) refused. In fact it was this very humility which convinced Manwë that Olórin was indeed the perfect choice to join the Istar.

And Gandalf's humility, along with his appreciation for those who live humble lives, may explain the origin of his portentous friendship with the secretive race of Hobbits. It seems that Gandalf knew, either consciously or otherwise, that the modest race of Halflings would one day "move the wheels of the world." And while "the eyes of the great were elsewhere," Gandalf spent a great deal of time watching over the Shire.

Which brings us to Gandalf's nature as a guide as opposed to a leader. It's a subtle distinction, but throughout all the quests that Gandalf takes part in, he seems to have an innate knowledge of when he ought to guide, and when he ought to bow out, and let others lead the quest onwards. After all it isn't Gandalf who slays Smaug. It isn't Gandalf who reclaims Erebor. And it isn't Gandalf who rebuilds Dale. And yet if it weren't for his 'chance' meeting with Thorin, none of those things would have happened. Which would would mean that during the Northern sphere of the War of the Ring, Dale and Erebor would not have been there to repel the armies of Sauron. But they were. Thanks to Gandalf. Even though he was busy in the South at the time. And of course, none of those things are the most significant outcome of Gandalf's involvement in the Quest of Erebor. If not for his foresight in regards to Bilbo, the One Ring would not have been found beneath the Misty Mountains, and it would not have made its way into the hands of the Free Peoples.

So for the first 2017 years of his time in Middle Earth, Gandalf was the 'man behind the curtain', the wise watcher, and the one who put plans into motion, which moved the gears of resistance. For many years, he'd fostered a friendship with Aragorn, and quietly worked towards restoring him to the throne of the Dúnedain. And a few years later he'd taken Faramir son of Denethor as his pupil, and instructed him the ways of wisdom. In the coming years, both of these friendships would end up saving the world. But in his 2018th year, Gandalf was suddenly thrust into the spotlight. Because by the year 3018, the time of waiting and watching was over.

Now we all know about Gandalf's contribution throughout the Lord of the Rings, and I'm not going to tell that story here, but on the 25th of January in the year 3019, everything came crashing down. Gandalf died. He didn't fail in his task, but his body did fail against the balrog. And Gandalf passed away. Well at least for 20 days. Because of course, Eru Ilúvatar himself would not allow Gandalf to leave Middle Earth just yet.

Now after being reborn, Gandalf faced an epic race to the finish line. There were only 25 days between being reunited with the three hunters, and the final destruction of Sauron. But in those 25 days Gandalf turned the tide of war from disaster to absolute victory. The very next day after meeting Aragorn in Fangorn, Gandalf arrived in Edoras, where he roused King Théoden from his hopelessness. The day after that was the Battle of the Hornburg, and the following morning, Gandalf arrived with Erkenbrand and 1000 Rohirric reinforcements. And the next day would see Gandalf riding with Pippin to Minas Tirith, where he would oversee the defence of the last bastion of resistance against Sauron.

So on the 15th of March, everything came to a head. On the fields of Pelennor, the forces of Mordor were driven back, but far to the East, in both Mirkwood and Lothlorien, the Elves came under an attack of their own. And up in the north, the Kingdoms of Erebor and Dale were besieged. There were now only ten days left on the War of the Ring.

So this was the reality that Gandalf and the other Free Peoples faced on the day of the Last Debate. And during this debate, Gandalf was unanimously chosen by the three Lords of the West, Aragorn, Éomer, and Imrahil, to be their leader in the final battle. Now this is possibly the first time in his entire existence, that Gandalf graduated from being a guide to being a genuine leader. And in the last week of the War of the Ring, everything Gandalf had ever done would culminate, in one final battle.

Now I don't want to imply that Gandalf alone saved Middle Earth, we know that there were a huge number of other heroes who took the reins. But all of them have Gandalf somewhere in their genesis; guiding them towards their fated end. After all it was Gandalf's idea to march on the Black Gate and draw Sauron's armies away from Frodo. It was Gandalf who set Frodo off on his quest in the first place. It was Gandalf who insisted that Sam go with him. It was Gandalf who persuaded Bilbo to go on the adventure in which the ring was found. And it was Gandalf who taught both Bilbo and Frodo to treat Gollum with pity. All of these events had to play out in exactly the way they did for the ring to be destroyed, and yet they're all ripples in time, that were set in motion by Gandalf.

Even Aragorn, the titular King who so famously returned, owes much of his fate to Gandalf. And he may not even know the full extent of it. The reason that Aragorn takes the title King Elessar, is because the Elessar was an elf stone that was given to him by his love Arwen. But Arwen was given the Elessar by her grandmother Galadriel. And who gave the stone to Galadriel? Who else but Gandalf? 2000 years before Aragorn was even born, Gandalf prophesied to Galadriel that she would one day pass the stone to a Man, and because of it, he would take up the name Elessar.

So let's now skip forward again to the Grey Havens, and to Gandalf's departure from Middle Earth. Alongside the rest of the ring-bearers (and Shadowfax) Gandalf passed into the West, leaving the East in its most peaceful and prosperous state ever. Now this is where the story ends, and so Gandalf's fate beyond this moment is a mystery. Yet I find it truly heartwarming to imagine Gandalf's reception when he arrived back in the West. 2022 years ago, he'd been sent across the sea to dwell in a land of war and darkness. All four of his fellow Istar failed. Over the centuries the power of Mordor only grew. The Kingdoms of Men were gripped by despair. But Gandalf succeeded in his mission. He did what he sent to do. And 2022 years later, the darkness was vanquished, and a new King had returned.

I feel like the victory of the Free Peoples over Sauron was like a complex machine. Thousands of cogs and wheels and turn at the exact right time and in the exact right way for victory to be achieved. And yet the spark that set the machine in motion was Gandalf. Imagine how great he must have felt to return to Valinor. To throw off the body of Gandalf and to return to his angelic form as Olórin. There is perhaps no one in the entire history of Arda, who did a better job than him. The victory of the West was his victory. Gandalf pulled off the ultimate win!

So, thank you all for reading. Over the course of this year’s lockdown I’ve been working on a series of Tolkien themed YouTube videos called Tolkien Untangled. So far I've uploaded 10 episodes explaining the beginning of the Simarillion, the Beginning of Days, and the tale of Fëanor and the Silmarils. I’ve also released four episodes about the differences between the Lord of the Rings books and movies, and I’m currently releasing a weekly series of Tolkien lore videos. So check out Tolkien Untangled on YouTube if you'd like to learn more.

Thanks again everyone. Much love and stay groovy ❤️

#tolkien #lord of the rings #gandalf #silmarillion #the hobbit #istari #unfinished tales #Tolkien Untangled #wizard #lotr #simplytolkien

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