Morning met Natalia mounted and waiting on the outskirts of the Shire. She did not have to wait long before a line of her now fellow travelers appeared. She let them all pass before following, her small gray horse practically prancing in excitement. No one spoke for a while, save their gruff greetings, as they all tried to wake up and recover from the late night festivities. It was midday when Gandalf found his way to Natalia's side.
"I'm glad you made it. Wasn't sure I would be able to get word to you, you're so damn hard to find." He chuckled to himself as he sucked on his pipe. "How have you been?"
Normally Natalia would hesitate talking to someone about her personal life, but Gandalf had been her friend for many, many years, she looked up to him as someone would an uncle. "Keeping my head down and my hands busy. What news have you from the East?"
Gandalf blew a ring of smoke into the air before answering. "My inquiries have all come back with bad news. It is rumored among the wizards that you might be all that's left..."
Natalia frowned behind her shawl and looked down at her horses neck as she tried to sort through her thoughts.
"Do not fret child, for you are only alone if you allow yourself to believe it so." Gandalf gave a comforting smile and turned his focus back to smoking.
They rode on until nightfall forced them to make camp, the dwarfs working together effortlessly. A single small fire was lit and the supper of roast rabbit began cooking over it, the occasional drops of fat making the fire sizzle and pop. As everyone gathered around to eat Bilbo took it upon himself to find out more about their female companion.
"Where are you from, if I may ask?"
"Here and there, my trade keeps me moving." She knew the answer was vague but that was all she was willing to give them.
"What trade might that be?" Ori asked, looking across the fire with polite expectation.
"Furs mostly, though I have been known to hunt any bothersome beasts someone sees fit to be rid of."
"You travel alone?" Fili asked as he threw his leftover rabbit bones into the fire. "The roads have been getting dangerous..."
"I can take care of myself, thank you." Natalia found it hard to hide her annoyance.
Fili held up his hands in mock defeat. "Alrighty then, meant no offense."
Nodding her head in understanding, Natalia excused herself from the gathering and went to her pack to lay down for the night, turning her back to everyone. Upon her leave Thorin settled down next to his companions for dinner.
"Yeash, what's her problem?" Kili asked no one in particular.
Gandalf, once again smoking on his pipe, sighed. "Be patient with her, Natalia has not had an easy life."
"Have any of us?" Thorin asked gruffly.
"Was your mother banished from her homeland simply for loving a man her king did not approve of?" Gandalf was looking into the flames of the fire as if recalling a distant memory. "Did you grow up amongst the humans, watching your mother waste away in despair? Until finally one morning she would not wake..." Gandalf blinked hard and looked up from the fire into the eyes of the dwarf king.
"I should feel sorry for a fate they brought upon themselves?" Thorin scoffed. "I think not."
"The blame should not be in the lucky souls blessed enough to know love! Nor should it be in the child who survived an ill fated life, rather it should be in the men who would not open their eyes to a different way, condemning a mother and child with their ignorance!"
Thorin, looking somewhat ashamed, dropped the argument and gave the order to sleep, Gloin taking first watch.
The next few days of travel passed without incident, attitudes towards Natalia improving slowly. She too was beginning to open up to her companions, often hunting with Kili at night, their bows taking down even the swiftest prey. Bofur had become her loyal riding partner, she found that she actually enjoyed his carefree banter. In Fili and Kili she found two dwarfs whom she could call friends, their endless shenanigans keeping the whole companies moral high, though Fili seemed more aloof than his brother at times. With Balin she found a less than warm acceptance, though she considered any kind of acceptance from him a win.
As they rode further down the east road Natalia felt herself growing tense and agitated, she often had to wipe sweat from her brow even when the air was crisp with a fall breeze. On the fifth day her discomfort had become noticeable.
"Are ya doin alright lassie?" Bofur was looking at her in concern as they rode side by side.
Fighting back shivers Natalia nodded, afraid to speak in case her voice failed her. Bofur was not convinced but left her alone, instead going to Gandalf with his worries. "I'm not sure our maid is feelin too well." He whispered to the wizard.
"Hmm, is that so?" Gandalf turned in his saddle to look back at Natalia. "Speak to no one else of this." He told Bofur firmly as he reined his horse around, attempting to hide the concern in his face. "Natalia?" He spoke softly so as not to bring attention to them. "Are you having some troubles my dear?"
Natalia nodded quickly, her hands gripping her saddle firmly so as to stop their shaking. "It's been almost a week, Gandalf."
"Can you not keep it under control?"
"Its been getting harder and harder to, I'm afraid I won't be able to fight it much longer."
Gandalf sighed heavily but nodded. "Tonight then, if it cannot be helped." He paused and gave Natalia a dark look. "But know this, I will not allow this company to be put in danger."
Again Natalia nodded, watching as Gandalf galloped up to the front of the line to speak with Thorin. The night could not come fast enough.