His statement shocked me. "And why not?" I demanded.
"When I had asked for help, none came. So I don't need an elf's help nor will I have anything to do elves."
Trying to keep my calm I asked, "When did you ask of our help, may I ask?"
"Over sixty years ago, when we lost Erebor."
Of course. I thought to myself. How did I not realize that this is the Thorin, prince of Erebor? "Please understand this. As I know no cry of help reached Rivendell I could only assume you asked it of the Woodland Realm. Had it been us there is no doubt we would have come. Please do not dismiss me due to what my kin did or did not do."
There was a moment of silence as the two of us had a sort of stare down. It was broken when the halfling quietly said, "She belongs on your quest. She's just about as stubborn as any of you dwarves."
That made a few of the less prejudice dwarves laugh ring while the rest seem to side with their leader. Thorin looked at his men and then sighed. "Fine." he agreed, ignoring the protests behind him, "But you're all the elves I'm gonna deal with." and then he walked away. All the dwarves followed him while Bilbo and Gandalf went a separate way.
Left alone, I decided to tend to Calylith. I tied her where some ponies were, no doubt belonging to the dwarves. After giving her a rub down, I found a bucket for some water.
Meanwhile, Thorin and Dwalin were speaking quietly amongst themselves. "Why did you decide to bring her with us?" Dwalin asked, clearly displeased with the decision.
Not any happier than his friend, Thorin mumbled something along the lines of not facing a wizard's ire twice in one night. "Besides", he cleared his throat, "I'm sure she won't last and will leave us eventually."
"Let us hope so. This quest is no place for an elf, especially a female one at that."
When I came back in I found the dwarves in one room sitting around a fireplace, smoking pipes and Gandalf was in an adjoined room smoking as well. Bilbo was nowhere in sight. I just took a seat in the room with Gandalf when I heard a sound. The dwarves had begun to hum in unison. After a moment Thorin began to sing. "Far over the misty mountains cold,
To dungeons deep and caverns old,
We must away ere break of day,
To find our long-forgotten gold."
And then the others joined him. "The pines were roaring on the height,
The winds were moaning in the night,
The fire was red, it flaming spread
The trees like torches blazed with light."
I had never heard dwarves singing before that, and it really amazed me. It was a song that I truly loved.
Soon after everyone decided it was time for bed. Gandalf and I got comfortable on the chairs while the dwarves took the floor. Before long, the house was filled with snores while I closed my eyes and let myself rest after the long journey.
The next morning everyone woke a little after dawn and we prepared to depart. I ate an apple I found left in the pantry while helping to clean up after ourselves. We then left in awkward silence as none of the dwarves had yet to speak to me and Gandalf was content with the quiet.
It wasn't until we were riding our horses, or ponies in the case of the dwarves, through the woods that I realized we were a person short. "Where's Bilbo?"
"Not coming." one of the dwarves, Bofur I believed, grumbled.
"He'll come." Balin said.
"Anyone want to take bets?" Fili asked.
Each of the dwarves, excluding Thorin and Balin, then began to place bets. Dwarves. "I'm in and I say he will come."
I turned next to me to the owner of the voice, eyebrows raised. "You too Gandalf?"
He just shrugged his shoulders sheepishly. I just smiled and shook my head. Wizards.
About an hour later found a few of the dwarves were grumbling about how we could've been much farther along by now. Most of the complaints came from those that doubted that Bilbo will come. But then we heard some shouts. "Wait! Wait!"
We halted our steeds and turned to find Bilbo running towards us. He stopped once he reached us and as he was catching his breath he said, "I signed it." He handed a paper to Balin while I turned to Gandalf. "What did he sign?"
"Oh, a contract." he answered, "I guess we forgot to give you one."
"A contract, huh?" was my quiet reply. All the dwarves had cheered and I turned back just in time to see Bilbo be lifted onto a pony. I laughed at the sight.
A few minutes later Oin said, "Come on, Nori, pay up. Go on."
Nori tosses a small bag of coins back to Oin causing him to go "Hey, hey, hey!"
We all laughed at him and the money began flying among the group. I looked to see Bilbo looking confused. "What's that about?"
"Oh," I said, "they took wagers on whether or not you'd turn up."
"Yes and most of them bet that you wouldn't." Gandalf added.
"What did you two think?" he asked us.
"Hmmm." was Gandalf's reply just before he caught a money bag. "My dear fellow, I never doubted you for a second."
Smiling, I shook my head just as Bilbo asked, "And you, Eámanë?"
"Oh, I knew you would come." I replied, "I just don't gamble."
He let out a half chuckle just before he sneezed. "Are you alright?" I asked him.
"Ohh. All this horse hair, I'm having a reaction."
"That's not pleasant. Don't worry, you'll adjust to it." was my reply as I looked forward. Then a moment later he said, "No, no, wait, wait, stop! Stop! We have to turn around."
We all halted our steeds and then we looked at him. "What on earth is the matter?" Gandalf asked him.
"I forgot my handkerchief."
"Here." Bofur said as he tore a strip off his clothing, "Use this."
He tossed it to Bilbo who then held it up in disgust. Then Thorin gave the order to move again. "You'll have to manage without pocket-handkerchiefs and a good many other things, Bilbo Baggins, before we reach our journey's end." Gandalf told him, "You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire, but home is now behind you; the world is ahead."
Looking over I saw our hobbit already looking a bit discouraged. I pulled Calylith up next to his pony and held out a clean measure of cloth. "Here, I know it's not the same as a tailor-made handkerchief but at least it's clean and will do the job."
"Thank you so much." he placed the cloth in his pocket and I noticed him discreetly throwing the other one on the ground. "You know," he said quietly, "I must admit that I'm already questioning whether or not I should've just stayed home."
"I suppose it's natural that someone who has lived a comfortable life at home would feel uneasy at this sudden change." I gave him an encouraging smile. "I'll admit it was an adjustment for me at first, but once I got a taste of it I couldn't help but enjoy it. Just give it time."
We entered a comfortable silence as he pondered over what I said.