Chapter 3
Rain and Trolls makes not a Good Day
I rode in between Fili and Kili. It was raining and I had the hood of my cloak up, but I was chilled to the bone. I kept my head down. Fili was in front of me with Kili behind me.
"Mr. Gandalf, can't you do something about this deluge?" Dori asked.
"Please." I said, pulling my cloak closer to me to keep warm.
'It is raining Master Dwarf and it will continue to rain until the rain is done. If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another wizard." Gandalf said.
"Are there any?" Bilbo asked.
"What? Gandalf asked.
"Other wizards?" I ask, also curious.
"There are five of us. The greatest of our order is Saruman, the White. Then there are the two Blue wizards, you know, I've quite forgotten their names." Gandalf said.
"And who is the fifth?" I ask.
"Well, that would be Radagast, the Brown." Gandalf said.
"Is he a great Wizard or is he... More like you?" Bilbo asked. I chuckled and I heard Kili snort. Gandalf looked slightly offended. Fili slowed down to ride next to me, shrugging off his coat.
"Here." Fili said, handing over the coat as Gandalf talked about Radagast.
"You'll freeze." I said.
"Dwarves have more layers and your shivering. Please." Fili said. I smile lightly and took the jacket and slid it on. Fili went back to the front as I pulled it closer and was warming up. The coat smelled of him and I breathed in the scent. I saw Gandalf pass a knowing look and I shook my head.
Later that day. We came to a ruined house and it finally stopped raining. I got off my horse and handed Fili his coat back.
"Thank you." I said as Gandalf and Thorin argued.
"Your welcome." Fili said with a smile. I push hair out of my face as I grab my bag and weapons off my saddle. I notice Kili elbow Fili, who turned red. Gandalf goes storming by.
"Everything alright? Gandalf, where are you going?" Bilbo asked. I stroke Nova's nose as I watched Gandalf walk away.
"To seek the company of the only one around here who's got any sense." Gandalf said. I raised an eyebrow.
"Who's that?" I ask.
"Myself. Miss Astra. I've had enough of dwarves for one day." Gandalf said. I shot a glare at Thorin who ignored it.
"Come on Bombur. We're hungry." Thorin said.
That night. I sat near a rock with a bowl of soup in my lap as I sat eating. I heard Bilbo talking about Gandalf and goes to give Fili and Kili, who were watching the ponies along with my horse, their food.
"I see you have interest in my nephew." Thorin said, joining me.
"How?" I ask.
"Just the way you look at him and talk to him. He likes you also. I approve." Thorin said.
"I don't think Adar would." I said. Thorin snorts and was about to say something when Fili and Kili come running back.
"What's wrong?" Thorin asked, standing and I follow. Fili raises an eyebrow at us.
"Trolls. They got Bilbo." Fili said, grabbing his weapons and Kili does it also. I grab mine.
"Stay." Thorin said.
"Like no." I said, heading after the brothers. Thorin right on my tail.
"Drop him." Kili said. I saw Bilbo being hung upside down by one of trolls.
"You what?" Tom asked.
"I said, drop him." Kili said. Tom throws Bilbo at Kili and both land on the ground. We ran out. I slashed one of the legs of the trolls and bring it to the ground. The other were fighting. I get reached at, but get knocked to the ground, by Fili. Fili pulled me to my feet and I shoot him a glare.
"BILBO!" Kili yelled. I turned to see Thorin stop Kili and Bilbo being held by the arms and legs by the trolls.
"Lay down your arms or we'll rip his off." Tom said. Thorin throws down his sword and everyone follows. I throw mine down. The dwarves were shoved in sacks. I try to get away, but one of the trolls grab me.
"Look Tom. An elf." Bert said.
"Throw her in a sack. We'll eat her for desert." Tom said. I get thrown in a sack and land with my head in Fili's lap.
"You alright?" Fili ask.
"I'm fine. I can fight so don't go knocking me down." I said.
"Sorry, beautiful." Fili said, making me blush as I see the other dwarves that were not in sacks on a stick over the fire.
"Why bother cooking them? Let's just sit on them and squash them into jelly." William said.
"They should be sautéed and grilled with a sprinkle of sage." Bert said. Just what I needed, to be eaten by trolls.
"Ooh, that does sound quite nice." William said. I heard talking from the dwarves in fear. I close my eyes, hoping for a miracle or something.
"Never mind the seasoning. We ain't got all night. Dawn ain't far away. So let's get a move on. I don't fancy being turned to stone." Tom said. I open my eyes remembering that trolls can't come out in the sunlight. I saw Bilbo got it also.
"Wait! You are making, a terrible mistake." Bilbo said.
"You can't reason with them, they're half-wits." Dori said.
"Half-wits? What does that make us?" Bofur asked. I rolled my eyes as Bilbo stands up. He jumps till he's facing the trolls.
"I meant with the, uh, with the seasoning." Bilbo said. I knew what Bilbo was doing and was proud that the hobbit figured out what to do unlike the dwarves.
"What about the seasoning?" Bert asked.
"Well have you smelt them? You're going to need something stronger than sage before you plate this lot up." Bilbo said. There were angry shouts.
"Traitor." Nori said.
"I won't forget this. I won't." Dwalin said. I held back a laugh. I could feel Fili moving under my head.
"What do you know about cooking dwarf?" Tom asked.
"Shut up, let the, uh, flurgburburrahobbit talk." Bert said.
"Uh, the secret to cooking dwarf is, um." Bilbo said.
"Yes? Come on, tell us the secret." Bert said.
"Um, yes, I'm telling you, the secret is... to skin them first!" Bilbo said. Threats and yells came from the dwarves. I was holding back my laughter. If only my brother was here, he would be laughing.
"Why are you laughing? It's not funny." Fili hissed. I shot him a death glare.
"Tom, get me the filleting knife." Bert said. I see movement and recognize Gandalf and Bilbo saw him also.
"What a load of rubbish! I've eaten plenty with their skins on. Scuff them, I say, boots and all." Tom said.
"He's right! Nothing wrong with a bit of raw dwarf." William said, coming over and picking up Bombur, putting him head first towards his mouth. "Nice and crunchy."
"NOT THAT ONE. He's infected." I cry out.
"Astra. What are you doing?" Thorin asked as I stood up.
"You what?" Tom asked as I hopped over to Bilbo's sid.
"He's got worms in his... Tubes." I said. William drops Bombur back into the pile of dwarves, who groan in pain.
"In fact they all have it, they're all infested with parasites. It's a terrible business, I wouldn't risk it, I really wouldn't." Bilbo said, shooting me a thankful look. I smile.
"Parasites, did both of them say parasites." Oin said. I groan and heard Bilbo sigh.
"We don't have parasites! You have parasites." Kili said. Bilbo and I turn to look at the dwarves on the ground. I shoot Thorin a glance and he caught on. He kicked Kili and all the dwarves look at him and then turn around.
"I've got parasites as big as my arm." Oin said.
"Mine are the biggest parasites, I've got huge parasites." Kili said. Bilbo and I turn to face the trolls as the dwarves shouted in agreements.
"What would you ahve us do, then, let 'em all go?" Tom said.
"Well..." I said. Tom shoves us and I land hard on Fili, who grunted in pain.
"You think I don't know what you're up to? This little ferret is taking us for fools." Tom said.
"Ferret?" Bilbo asked.
"Fools?" Bert asked.
"The dawn will take you all." Gandalf said, appearing on the rock.
"Who's that?" Bert asked.
"No idea." Tom said.
"Can we eat him too?" William asked. Gandalf brought down his staff and split the rock in two. The light from the sun came and turned the trolls to stone. We all cheered. Fili and I smile at each other. I got lost in his beautiful eyes and he smiled fondly at me.
"Oh, get your foot out of my back." Dwalin said.
AN: So the company is starting to notice. Next chapter will be up soon and I got surprise for all of you in two chapters. A twist you won't see coming. Not telling.
