Bella was a fool. A downright fool. They had set out from Rivendell rather quickly, without Gandalf, and as she looked back, she debated whether she should go or not. She did decide to go with the Company and they wandered through fields and rocks and trails behind waterfalls. She talked with the members of the Company more and learned of Dwarven culture and they in turn learned of her own. She felt like she was growing closer to them, and they to her. There was a sense of completion, one that she had not felt since the loss of her parents. This was where she was meant to be. The thought warmed her to the core, even as they stumbled along a mountain edge with frigid rain pounding them each step. It was a terrible thunderstorm, one that was making this trek dangerous and the rocks slippery. She had stumbled a bit when a few rocks slipped under her feet, but she was caught and pushed back by Dwalin and Bofur. Thorin called back to them, telling them that they needed to find shelter somewhere. Dwalin yelled out for them all as a large rock was flung through the air and crashed into the mountain wall above them. The boulder shatter and rocks fell around them. The Company pressed themselves against the wall as the rocks joined the rain around them. Balin spoke now.

"This is no thunderstorm. It's a thunder battle!" He called, pointed to two mountains that were moving in the distance.

"Well bless me, the legends are true!" Bofur exclaimed. "Giants! Stone giants!" The mountain shook and cracked beneath them all as a large rigid formed between the group, separating them from one another. Bella looked up to see that the mountain they were standing on was no mountain, but a stone giant as well! Things just got a lot harder. The giant they stood on was knocked to the side, its knee crashing into the adjacent mountain, allowing for Thorin, and the group that was with him to jump to safety. All that was left now was Bella and the others with her. Rocks continued to crash into one another and half of the Company were swung about, none of them really being able to keep their footing. The giant above them began to stumble, its head no longer on its body. It fell forward, slamming the knee which held Bella and the others into the apparent, rocky mountainside. Thorin stared in horror before screaming out for them.

"Nooo!" He called out, even Kili was heard behind him as his brother was with them as well. As they ran further along the ledge to where the knee had collided with the rocks, relief washed over everyone as they saw that they all had lived and were on the ground, groaning in pain. Bofur began to look around when panic set in.

"Where's Bella?" He asked the others and panic spread through all dwarves as they called for their hobbit. Bella, was hanging for her life to the ledge of the mountain. She tried to pull herself up, but the mountain was too slippery for her to gain any footing. She was terrified, even as the others had seemed to find her and reach for her. She looked up at them before her grip slipped and she fell further down. A small scream of terror left her lips, even as her hand caught another ledge. The dwarves kept reaching for her, and she to them as she pleaded with Lady Yavanna to help her. Her silent prayers seemed answered by fear as she watched Thorin drop to the ledge as well. What was he thinking?! He was going to leave this company leaderless as well as without their burglar? He reached for the hobbit, grabbing her arm and pulling her up to the others. Once they had her, Thorin lost his grip a bit, but was caught by Dwalin. His brother in arms lifted him back up onto the ledge, all panting from strain and fear. Bella was leaning back against the wall, clinging tightly to Bofur.

"I thought we lost our burglar." Dwalin spoke and she looked over to them. Thorin was staring at her with a deep, furious scowl that caused her to shrink back some. But it was nothing compared to the words he uttered to her.

"She's been lost ever since she left home." He turned away and began walking again. "She should never have come." Bella lowered her gaze to the ground in guilt and Bofur gently nudged her some. He offered her a small smile before helping her to her feet once more. Thorin had lead them into a small cave along their path, determining that this was where they'd make camp. They had wanted to start a fire, but Thorin 'I'm overly paranoid' Oakenshield told them not to and to simply rest for the night. Bella moved herself as far back from the others as she could. She was a fool. She didn't belong with them. Thorin was right. Bofur was ordered to the first watch and Bella knew what she needed to do. She waited for all the Dwarves to start snoring, signalling that they were asleep, before she stood quietly with her pack slung over her shoulders. She cautiously walked to the entrance only to be stopped by Bofur.

"Where do you think you're going?" He asked her in a whisper. She stopped her back to him and her shoulders dropping with a sigh. She turned to him with a rather heart breaking expression.

"Back to Rivendell." She answered simply. Bofur stood quickly.

"No. No. You can't turn back now. You're part of the company. You're one of us." This only seemed to make Bella's dejected look worse.

"I'm not, though, am I?" She asked him, a deep sadness in her voice. "Thorin said I should never have come and he was right." Her eyes watered, but she did not cry. "I'm not a Took, I'm a Baggins. I don't know what I was thinking. I should have never run out my door." Bofur looked to her sadly, but with warmth.

"Ignore what Thorin said. He was frightened to lose you and he let his words get away from him. It happens often." He told her. "You're homesick. I understand." She snapped at this.

"No you don't." She raised her voice some, but it was still a whisper. "You don't understand, none of you do. You're dwarves. You're used to this life, to living on the road. Not settling in one place, not belonging anywhere." The look on Bofur's face caused Bella to pause and realize her words. Maybe she and Thorin had something in common there. "I'm sorry. I didn't …" She trailed off and looked down, feeling even worse than before.

"No, you're right. We don't belong anywhere." He mumbled as he looked around the rest of the sleeping Company. Well, almost everyone was sleeping. Thorin, who had heard the whole exchange, was not and could not now. Bofur was right when he had said that he let his emotions dictate his words. Now he had pushed away the only outsider that had shown them any sort of kindness. But Bella wasn't an outsider. She was one of the Company, one of them, and now he had scorned her away. They didn't belong anywhere. But she did. It was best that she headed home, where she would be safe and not be hurt.

"What's that?" Bofur asked as he looked to the letter opener attached to Bella's hip. She had been learning to use it on this trip so far. She could fight with it, but not well enough just yet, thanks to Fili and Kili. Said sword was now giving off a blue glow and Bella's heart sank. She locked eyes with Bofur and Thorin slowly raised his head as he stared at the blade. The sound of old wood creaking filled the cave and the dwarf looked down as the sand parted some. It was a trap.

"Wake up!" He ordered everyone as he sat up quickly. "Wake up!" They weren't quick enough. The stone ground split open beneath them, causing every party member to fall down a rugged, stone tunnel. They bounced around some as they slid down, all beginning to feel the pain from the rocks even as they fell into what looked like a wooden, bowl trap. One fell right on top of the other, loud grunts and groans of pain coming from every living being. Instantly, the Company was rushed by an army of goblins who pulled them up and began to drag them away. Bella had started out on the top of the pile, but quickly fell to the bottom as the goblins seemed not to notice her. They only went for the dwarves. Bella was on her feet, but quickly sunk to her knees when she noticed that the goblins were just pushing past her. They didn't see her, which worked to her advantage. She kept her head down as the last of the goblins left and then she raised her gaze. She watched the Company be dragged away and she stood once more. She quickly drew her glowing sword and began to follow after them. She had to help them. She couldn't just leave, knowing whose hands they were in. As she was making her way, a goblin jumped down in front of her, surprising her. It snarled at her and began to swing its sword at her. Thankful for the little bit of training she had, Bella blocked the swings, but was being forced back rather quickly. The goblin jumped onto her back and sunk its teeth into her shoulder. She screamed out in pain, but jerked her arms open to break the grip, flinging the goblin over the ledge. Unfortunately for her, she followed suit and fell from the ledge as well.

She didn't know where she was now. Bella was standing in pure white light, nothing to be seen for miles. Fear nestled itself into her heart until a voice that sounded like a chorus of birds eased her mind.

"Do not despair, my daughter. You are protected and loved. You must awaken. Wake before it is too late." The voice commanded gently. When Bella opened her eyes again, she was instantly met with a throbbing ache in her chest and head. She winced and groaned as she attempted to move, only to feel more pain rush up her spine. She heard coarse breathing next to her and she lifted her head slightly, spotting the goblin she had fallen with. Soon, another's breathing was heard and Bella shrank back some to make sure she was not spotted from where she hid. She watched as a mangled up creature approached the goblin, crawling on all fours to it and speaking to itself.

"Yes." It gurgled out. "Yes!" It called out as it circled the goblin, a hoarse coughing coming from it. It sounded sickly. Yavanna's mercy, it looked like sickness. Bella stared on as it began to drag the goblin away, but the goblin fought it. The two shared short swings with one another before the gangly creature grabbed a rock and started smashing in its head. She squeezed her eyes shut as the sound was nauseating enough. She did not need to see what a goblin's brain looked like, if it had one. "Nasty golbinses." It snapped and was once again dragging the creature away. "Better than old bones, precious. Better than nothing!" Bella looked to the spot the two had been, only to find them long gone. Taking a rather painful breath, Bella slowly moved out from her hiding spot, pushing what seemed like mushroom caps off of her. She found her sword once again as she stood shakily, one hand moving to cradle her abdomen. She stared at the glowing blade for a second when something golden caught her eye. She gazed down at it, her brows creasing some. What was a practically flawless golden ring doing down here? She bent down and lifted the object, examining it for a moment then pocketing it without realizing that she had. She heard a cry come from the creature she decided to name Gollum after the coughing sound it made and began to cautiously approach the area where the cry had come from. She began to hear singing coming from the creature and she took shelter behind a large rock. She peered out around the edge at the large rock formation that Gollum had been standing on, watching it work on the goblin. When it glanced over, Bella quickly hid herself again, but stared in confusion as the blue glow of her blade flickered for a moment then went out. She turned it over, checking the whole blade before deciding to look back over the edge. If she had a mirror, Belladonna would've seen how much she had paled to find Gollum missing. She swallowed hard and turned back around pressing her back against the rock. Where could it have gone? She received her answer when she heard Gollum's breathing above her. Slowly, she turned her eyes some and then her head to find Gollum right above her. It suddenly dropped down right in front of her, smirking.

"Blesses and splashes precious." It spoke and Bella could only stare, breathing heavily. "That's a meaty mouthful." It began to approach, but Bella held out her sword, pointing it at Gollum's chest.

"Back. Stay back." She ordered, rising to her feet as the creature backed off. "I'm warning you. Don't come any closer." Gollum moved away.

"Its got an elvish blade, but its not an elf. Not an elf no. What is it, precious? What is it?" It asked her and Bella tried to calm her breathing.

"My name is Bella Baggins."

"Baggins? What's a Baggins, precious?" It asked.

"I'm, uh, hobbit from the Shire." She told it, never letting her sword fall.

"Oh! We likes hobbits. Bats and fishes, but we hasn't tried hobbits before. Is it soft?" It began to stalk towards her and Bella backed up some. "Is it juicy?" Bella had heard enough.

"Now keep your distance!" She ordered, swinging her sword back and forth to keep Gollum back. "I'll use this, if I have to." She warned, aiming the sword tip at it again. It growled at her and she swung again. "Now I don't want any trouble. Do you understand? Just show me the way to get out of here, and I'll be on my way." Gollum climbed onto a rock.

"Why? Is it lost?"

"Yes. Yes, and I want to get unlost as soon as possible." Gollum brightened.

"Oh wes knows We knows safe passes for hobbits. Safe paths in the dark. Shut up!" Gollum exclaimed, its smile falling to a deep scowl. Bella raised an eyebrow.

"I didn't say anything."

"Wasn't talking to you." It growled. "Oh yes, yes we was precious. We was." Bella sighed.

"Look, I don't know what your game is-" She didn't get to finish. Gollum gasped.

"Games?! We love games, doesn't we precious? Does it like games?" It asked her. She did not understand this thing. It had clearly gone insane after all this time alone here. "Does it? Does it? Does it like to play?"

"Maybe." She answered in confusion and Gollum held up its hand.

"What has roots that nobody sees, is taller than trees, up, up, up it goes, but never grows?" It asked her. Bella gave it a blank look.

"A mountain."

"Yes! Yes! Oh, let's have another one, ah?" It asked of her. "Do it, do it again. Ask us." Its face changed again. "No! No more riddles. Finish her off. Finish it now." It turned back to her, coughing wetly again. It went for her and Bella held up her hand.

"Nope. No, no I want to play." She assured it. "I do. I want to play. I can see that you are very good at this. So," she knelt down to its level, "have a game of riddles?" She suggested and it brightened. "Just you and me."

"Yes!" Gollum approached happily. "Yes, just us." It nodded.

"And if I win, you show me the way out of here." Bella smiled as it nodded.

"Yes, yes." It growled again and Bella moved back. "And if it loses, what then? Well, if it loses, precious we eats it." Bella blinked as she turned her head back to it and stared. What? Gollum looked back to her. "If Baggins loses, we eats it whole." The two stared at one another and Bella opened her mouth to say something. She quickly shut her mouth and nodded.

"Fair enough."
-Bella panted heavily as she pushed her way through the rocks around the tunnel. She should've expected such a mentally unstable creature such as Gollum to go back on its word. After winning the game of riddles in an unexpected way, Gollum became enraged as it demanded to know what was in her pocket and then call her a thief. She didn't steal anything as far as she was aware, but she had long since decided not to rationalize its actions. She looked around the dead end she found herself in, not sure what to do now for if she went back, Gollum would surely be there. She turned back anyway in hopes to get away before Gollum found her, but she froze and turned a different way when she saw its body move passed quickly. She looked to a thin opening that just might be big enough for her to fit through, a soft voice having guided her attention to it. Sucking in her gut, Bella forced herself to the crack and tried to squirm through. It was proving more difficult than she had originally planned, but she had to try and she had to hurry. She stiffened when she looked up and over to see Gollum moving back to stare down the tunnelway where she currently was. It stared at her, growling before it moved to her. She held back a whimper as she looked down at the stupid brass buttons that were keeping her stuck.

"It's ours!" Gollum exclaimed as it reached for her just as all five buttons ripped off her vest and hit the creature in the face and allowed her to move through the crack now. She stumbled backwards for a moment and fell to her back. The golden ring flew from her grip, and she reached up to catch it, only to have it slip onto her finger. The world felt wrong almost instantly. It felt like she was underwater, or trapped under something as the air had grown heavier. Everything became muffled, even the colors, muffled by a hue of grey that seemed to spin around her vision. The soothing voice she had felt since her dream had been silenced. Just then, Gollum jumped through the crack and landed in front of her. She knew that she was doomed at this moment, but it was as if the creature didn't see her. It looked around, growling and whining despite the fact that she now lay right in front of it. It slunk away to her right, leaving the poor hobbit confused on the ground. She steadily pushed herself up and began to follow the creature. Why couldn't it see her? For a brief second, her eyes fell to the golden, surprisingly heavy, ring on her finger. Could this have done it? It was the only thing different from before. She made a mental note to ask Gandalf about it if she ever got out of here. She was hesitant and slow with her steps as she moved behind the cave dweller, her sword still drawn. She could feel sunlight to the left of her and she glanced that way. The exit! Oh praise the Green Lady, she had found it! She heard heavy footsteps and Gollum reacted in a panic, moving to hide behind a rock as she watched the Company, plus Gandalf, running to the exit she had found moments before. They all seemed to be there, and that relieved her to no end. But there was still the issue of getting by Gollum. It may not be able to see her now, but that didn't mean it wouldn't be able to feel her move past. In a rather pathetic display, she watched Gollum slowly leave its hiding place to look where the dwarves had vanished to. She wasn't seen, and she still had her sword. She could kill it now and she'd be out with no other problems. She leveled her sword with its neck before she drew it back, ready to take off its head. But then it turned to her. It may be looking passed her, but the look in its eyes caused her to hesitate. It was just a creature, who was scared and hungry. As evil and disgusting as it may have been, Bella couldn't bring herself to do it. Slowly, she lowered her sword, her shoulders drooping a bit. Gandalf's words from when he had given her the sword entered her mind, but the voice was not Gandalf's.

True courage wasn't knowing when to take a life, but when to spare one.

Bella sighed again, sheathing her sword quietly. She couldn't do it. She walked backwards some so she could get a running start. She bolted now, jumping passed Gollum and accidentally kicking it in the face. It screamed after her as she ran through the cave exit and was back in the sun again. She could see the Company just ahead of her and she smiled, increasing her speed despite her aching ribs. Gandalf's voice was now within hearing distance.

"Where's Bella?" She was about to answer him, but yet did not. "Where is our hobbit? Where is our hobbit?!" He exclaimed and the Dwarves began to look around now.

"Curse that halfling! Now she's lost!" Bella paused her steps, her brows creased as she listened and looked to them. "I thought she was with Dori!"

"Don't blame me!" Dori exclaimed.

"Where did you last see her?" Gandalf asked.

"I think I saw her slip away when they first cornered us." Nori told the wizard.

"And what happened exactly? Tell me!"

"I'll tell you what happened." Thorin snapped. Bella looked to him, backing up some to a tree close by when he began to walk. "Mistress Baggins saw her chance and she took it." Bella's brows creased. He sounded betrayed almost. "She's thought of nothing but her soft bed and warm hearth since she stepped out of her door." Bella moved slowly, pressing her back to the tree so the Company was now behind her. "We'll not be seeing our hobbit again. She is long gone." In truth, Thorin was scared. All he could picture was having her dead or stuck back in the goblin tunnels. He was supposed to watch after her, yet...no she wasn't dead. She had left. That was it.

"Nope." She spoke after she had removed the ring and slipped it back into her pocket. All eyes turned on her now. "She isn't." All, even Thorin, seemed relieved to see her.

"Bella Baggins." Gandalf laughed in relief. "I've never been so glad to see anyone in my life." Bella offered him a smile.

"Bella." Kili called to her softly and she looked to him, their smiles matching. "We've given you up."

"How on Earth did you get passed the goblins?" Fili asked her. "And what in the name of Mahal happened to you?" He added when he noted the dark bruise forming on the left side of her cheek and jaw. She shrugged a bit, laughing a bit nervously as she placed her hands on her waist.

"Well what does it matter?" Gandalf asked, and she looked to him. He held a strange expression on his face, but if he knew something he said nothing on it. "She's back."

"It matters." Thorin spoke up, looking to Bella and she returned his gaze. "I want to know, why did you come back?" She stared at the leader of the Company for a moment, taking a deep breath.

"Look, I know you doubt me, and I know you always have. And you're right, I often think of Bag End." She shrugged slightly at that statement. "I miss my books, and my armchair and my garden. See that's where I belong. That's home." Thorin held her gaze for the entire time she spoke, some emotion stirring behind his eyes that she could not, or was not willing to place. "And that's why I came back….because you don't have one. A home. It was taken from you. But I will help you take it back if I can." She assure the Dwarf, who said nothing and just stared. Blue eyes meeting green. For a moment, no one said anything. They all just looked at Bella, and she looked at them despite growing rather uncomfortable under their gazes. The soft peace under the setting sun ended when the sounds of howling pierced their ears.