An unexpected journey

I look to the horizon. A beautiful sunset appears between 2 hills. I like this very beginning of a morning. All those colors moving through the sky, it's like a painting. Every day is different, but very unique. Wherever you are, the view is the same. It remains me at home. I climb back on my pony and let this magnificent sight behind me while I'm leaving this place. It is a long journey. I hurry to catch up with the group.

"Bilbo, why are you doing this every morning?"

It is Kili, the youngest dwarf of the thirteen. I keep my mouth shut and pretend I did not hear him. I'm not in the mood to talk with him. To nobody actually. I miss home, the Shire, my friends… I want to let Kili behind me, but when I turn to the left Fili's pony blocks the passage. I am now stuck between the two brothers. I sigh deeply and curse. There goes my chance of a quiet ride. Kili laughs when he sees my face and gives me a push.

"You wanted to sneak out, didn't you?"

I shrug my shoulders.

"Our burglar wanted to break out"

"But he couldn't find the door" adds Fili.

The two brothers laugh out loud, both at their own jokes. A small smile appears on my face. Those two will be my death once. It has no longer meaning remain silent.

"I look to the sunset because it is exactly the same as back home. I miss it alright. Home. Now you know"

Suddenly Kili and Fili are still. I have touched a sensitive chord.

But than Fili start to sing:

"Far over the Misty Mountains rise

Leave us standing upon the heights

What was before, we see once more

Our kingdom a distant light…"

Kili accompany his brother and others soon follow. The song gets its full glory. Everyone is singing except Gandalf and me. This honor only belongs to them.

The time passes quickly. The sun is already at his highest point. Gandalf is pointing at something in the distance.

"Do you see that, Bilbo? Over there"

I can see the flue were 2 rivers flows together and become one hug river. It divides the landscape into three pieces.

"It is well known as the Twin. It is a crossroads of three races. On the right side of the river Nauca who flew into the Elda is the area of the dwarfs. That is where we are at the moment. On the left side of the Elda and then on the side of the Ve'edan is the area of the humans. Than between the Nauco and the Ve'edan you have the Elves property. Long ago there were important meetings on the river, now it is a kind of symbolic place."

"Wow I didn't knew that!"

"Gandalf!" screams Thorin.

Immediately I turn my head and look behind. A group of Orcs on their mounts appear suddenly.

"Everyone hurry to the Twin"

It would be a matter of time before they reach us, but we had to try.

"I will hold them for a while " says Gandalf.

"Hurry up"

He turns his white horse and ride to the Orcs. We let us not say it twice, because sharp arrows flying toward us.

"Those stupid Orcs always, they are like bees, but much uglier and dumber," grumbles Bifur while madly urging his pony to the extreme.

I quickly look behind me and see that they have already reached Gandalf. He is swinging his staff high above his head and gives sporadic blow while trying to distract the group. But it seems that they don't have much interest in him, more in us because they storm at us. The first of us have reached the point where the two rivers flow together. The problem is that the water level here is very high. The ponies never get over it.

"I fear that it will be a swim" shares with Thorin.

He jumps from his pony and goes to the river.