Chapter Three - Don't worry the journey will soon get underway!
Kate looked at her reflection in the cool water of the pond down by the Green Dragon Inn. For a moment she gazed at herself and gently tucked a lock of hair behind her ear before swiftly splashing the water over her face. 'Thorin'. What a name, it held such authority such strength. Ever since she had stopped running and rested by the pond she had thought of that face although she wished she could make her mind stop.
"Now is not the time or the place to have such feelings" she said aloud to the darkness. But as the words came from her mouth Kate closed her eyes and brought her hand to her pale face and stroked it. Kate didn't pretend she knew what was really going on at her Uncle's house but butterflies stirred in her stomach. She had an itch a need to return to discover more about the curious gathering.
Abruptly Kate stood, mind made up. Kate turned and screamed.
"Forgive me Kate" said a gentle voice.
"Oh Gandalf, it's you. You made me jump". They both smiled and Gandalf but his hand on her shoulder. "Gandalf I feel terrible about the way I behaved I must have really upset my dear Uncle". Kate was still reflecting as her eyes began to fill with moisture.
"Come come now" crooned the wizard "Bilbo had much more to be upset about than your behavior. I fear I may have asked to much of him. You see dear one I called upon your Uncle to ask him to accompany myself and the thirteen dwarfs on a quest far from his home. I thought he would come round to the idea but it seems Mr Baggins is far from the child I remember him to be".
Kate was begin to feel uncomfortable. "I don't understand. Why do you come here to ask such a thing of my Uncle?"
"Ah" said Gandalf "I have a keen interest in hobbits. I believe them to be astounding creatures and perfect for the need of Thorin's quest"
There was his name again 'Thorin'.
"So you need a hobbit?" Kate asked slowly
"Ideally yes" replied Gandalf "But your Uncle had clearly refused and I don't believe I shall find any other round here willing to take such a social risk".
Gandalf had asked and she had answered. Kate Took had no idea what or why she had done what she had done. Her feet had led her swiftly to her home where she had packed a small bag and changed into some more practical clothes. She had then sped back to Bag End and signed her name upon some dotted line before clambering into Bilbo's guest bed and lying there awake until dawn.
TAP TAP TAP
It was time.
Kate stuck close to Gandalf at the exposition of the mornings journey she was aware of tension within the group. She was no fool to the fact that in the eyes of some this was no place for a woman let alone one of her age.
Kate kept telling herself that if Gandalf thought she was the one for the job then she should not worry but the glances and grunts coming directly from Dwalin, Oin, Gloin and the handsome Thorin made her insides squirm. She couldn't turn back now, could she?
The previous night the dwarfs had taken a vote. Gandalf's main campaign had been that it was either Kate or nobody as he believed no other hobbit would take the charge. Fili and Kili wasted little time in showing their support which Kate was glad of. Ori and Nori followed suit. Dori and Balin took the most time to decide but eventually voted in Kate's favour. As for Bifur Bofur and Bombur they, being more light hearted than the rest had no aversions. And so nine outvoted the other four and Thorin was forced to accept Kate into his ranks.
All the while Bilbo had slept in his feather bed and would awake to find a short letter on his pillow.
