Chapter Four

As Gandalf took this Radaghast away to talk in private away from our wandering ears, I strangely found myself observing the rabbit-like creatures. They had this beautiful brown tint to their brownish-black fur, creating a beautiful colour in between. It was different, as well as stunning and beautiful. Some of the rabbits have blue eyes; others had brown, while the rest had green eyes. Their noses did this cute little twitch every few seconds as if they were sniffing the air. It was so adorable.

"Do you think they're amazing and fascinating creatures as well?" a small voice asked, shocking me out of my deep thoughts, which made me jump a little. I turned on my heels and came face to face with Bilbo. He mumbled his apology and I smiled.

"It's quite alright Bilbo. I'm not quite used to being around people since . . ." I paused and took a deep shaky breath, trying to remain calm. I had just calmed down, and I didn't want to start crying again. "And the answer to your question is simple. I don't honestly think there is a word to describe these magnificent creations of Mother Earth. That may sound weird, but you come to appreciate such wonderful things when you've been through the . . . experiences I have been through," I said looking up at the sky, watching the clouds lazily travel through the blue sky.

"I couldn't agree more," Bilbo said in complete agreement, which made me smile softly. I don't I have ever smiled this much from a stranger. That is if you don't count the brothers. Anyway, I could see that Bilbo hadn't been this far out into the wild before, so he was sort of like me. Except that I had been out this far before, and I have just forgotten. I blame the trolls.

"Tell me Bilbo, do you ever wish you'd never ventured on this quest? Do you still miss your home so dearly that you might ever consider going home? Would you trade this sort of adventure of sorts in for anything?" I asked. I had to know before I could let myself get too attached. I needed to know who might just betray us. I don't think I have it in my heart for any more pain.

I think I caught Bilbo quite off guard because he took sometime answering my question. I decided to take the chance to figure out my answer. I missed my home, but I would never betray my new family. I just got back, and I would never betray them for anything. I guess others would day otherwise, but these are the people I have grown up with. These are the people who have earned my respect and trust. These are the people who I love as if they are my family, and only a fool would betray them.

"Well," Bilbo started after another good long while, "I do dearly miss my recliner, but I do not regret my decision to join you guys, and I would never trade it in for all the gold in the world. Now if you had asked me that last week, my answer would be completely different, but I'm sure your answer is the same. Are you going to be joining us Dela? I am absolutely sure that Kili and Fili would be on their knees literally begging for you to come if you said no," Bilbo said chuckling softly.

I laughed a soft, innocent laugh as I could most definitely picture both the durin brothers on their knees before me begging for me to reconsider my decision. Such a beautiful sight. I shook my head slightly. "Maybe I should say no and see their reaction," I joked. Bilbo cracked a smile. "Besides that, I think Thorin's got it in his head that he owes it to my mother. But I really want to do this to make her proud. Everyone talks about her with such an amount of respect, which you can't help but be envious. I know I was," I sighed and glanced at Bilbo. He seemed to be giving me this look that I just couldn't read. "Why did you come on this quest Bilbo?" I asked him out of curiosity.

"Well, it's kind of hard to explain. I just don't know. I had gotten this feeling that was almost controlling and demanding me to go on this quest. Like it was my destiny, you know?" I nodded. I knew that feeling very well. I knew exactly what feeling he was talking about. I had the same feeling about my self being on this journey. You couldn't really ever explain why you got those feelings, you just knew.

I rubbed my eyes softly. I wasn't used to all this excitement like I was ten long years ago. It was taking suck a big toll on me. It probably didn't help that I was supposed to be feed and given clean water toady. I had been thirteen long days without food, and two harsh days without water. My throat was killing on me. It was as dry as parchment in the middle of the desert, and really, really sore. I never had to use my voice this much.

I had to muffle a yawn, but I'm pretty sure Bilbo heard me as he tried to unsuccessfully hide a smile. My eyes started to feel heavy and started to close ever so slowly . . . NO! I wasn't going to give in to the blackness called sleep. Not now anyway. I looked up and groaned. I couldn't believe that it was midday. It felt like it should be the middle of the afternoon, not the day! How long could this day possibly be? I sighed heavily. It was going to be a very long day.

I looked around and saw quite a few things. Ori, Dori and Nori were heading in the direction of the ponies, so I assumed they were tasked with the welfare of them, Dwalin and Balin were talking to what looked like a pissed-off Thorin, Oin and Gloin were next to each other showing some brotherly affection, Bifur, Bofur and Bombur were cooking what I thought was lunch, Fili and Kili were off to the side talking to each other, occasionally glancing at Bilbo and I, and then there was Gandalf and the stranger off in their own little corner.

"Look at us. It's clear that we don't belong here and don't have any idea of what we're doing. We're the odd ones out," I said quietly glancing around at everyone once again. I sighed softly, just hearing the little hobbit's voice agreeing with me. I looked over at Kili and Fili and felt curiosity spark. "You know what? Follow me," I said standing up hearing Bilbo scrambling to his feet behind me.

Fili and Kili stopped their conversation as soon as Bilbo and I came into ear shot of their conversation. "Oh please, carry on with what you were saying please," I said looking at them expectantly. When they didn't continue, my eyes narrowed ever so slightly. They had never ever kept secrets from me. Not even when they had their first kisses at the ages of sixteen and eighteen. They rushed over to me and told me everything that lead up to it and how it felt to them, much to the girl's dismay and annoyance. I even did the same when I kissed the Butcher's son. That was the biggest mistake of my life. The boy's didn't even believe me when I told them. And I couldn't really blame them. We have never ever kept secrets from each other. I just couldn't believe it. I shook my head at them.

"Despicable. I can't believe you're doing this. I didn't know I wasn't worth trusting. A girl is gone for ten years, and you can't even trust her anymore. I had always thought we were, no are, closer than this!" I started to pull away when out if nowhere, Kili suddenly grabbed my wrist. Oh what did he want now?! I have had just about enough of this.

"We were trying to figure out what to get you for your birthday Dela. It's today. For the past ten years, we lit your favourite scented candles for you Deslia." I suddenly felt very bad. I had jumped to the wrong frickin conclusion. This is something I end up doing on a regular basis. But what made me not say anything was the lighting of the candles. It was so touching and sweet that I couldn't say anything. Nothing could describe how speechless I felt.

"She's speechless brother. That is a first. Don't worry too much Dela. We probably would've assumed the same thing. What was it you two were talking about anyway?" Fili asked us. Bilbo told the brothers the interesting story of what we had just talked about as I kept my mouth shut. How could I have forgotten? How could I have forgotten my birthday? Ten years ago, I would've been sixty-nine. Now I would be seventy-nine. I couldn't believe that after all this time, they would remember my birthday.

"Dela . . . What do you want for your birthday?" Bilbo asked, interrupting me of my inner babble. Now that I think about it, I don't honestly know what I want for my birthday. I don't even know if I like half of what I liked so long ago. Why was it such a hard question to answer? Then it popped into my head.

"Um . . . what I want for my birthday is for my new family to be happy." I got such big, bright smiles from all three of them that it made my heart swell. I think this is going to be the best birthday I have ever had or will ever have.

I opened my mouth to continue to talk when this strange sort of a howl interrupt the silence. I stiffened, fear paralysing my body. This couldn't really be happening. But one glance at Fili and Kili's face told me that it was in fact happening. Damn.

"Was that a wolf?" Bilbo asked, his voice laced with dear of the un-known. With all of our faces so grim, I don't think I could really blame him. There was no point in guessing that he was scared. It was written all over his face. And who wouldn't be.

"No laddie . . . they are Warg Scouts," Dwalin answered, his face as grim as the rest of ours.

"Warg Scouts?" Bilbo repeated in confusion. I really don't think he has ever been on and adventure before.

Ori then decided to burst in the clearing screaming something in dwarfish that I really didn't want to comprehend, with his brothers soon following his lead. "The ponies! They've bolted!" Ori then repeated so that Bilbo could understand. No. No. No. This couldn't be happening. Everything was fine just before. I shook my head in disbelief. Was I a bad luck or something? My luck couldn't really be that bad!

"DUCK!" I suddenly shrieked. A sneaky little Warg was sneaking up behind Fili and Kili, preparing to pounce, but not on my watch. The Warg leapt into the sky, seeing as Fili and Kili ducked, the Warg flew over them and landed on me instead. I probably would've screamed my head off if I wasn't too busy trying to keep that filth from biting my head off. I heard a thunk and a sound like bones breaking, and then the body went limp. I groaned as the Warg's full weight was on me, before it was pushed off me. I heard another growl and a lot more shrieking, which was soon followed by another loud thunk of bones breaking. My vision started to clear as Bofur pulled me up onto my feet.

Gandalf soon came out of nowhere and was stomping his way over to Thorin with steam coming out of his ears. "Who did you tell?!" Gandalf demanded Thorin. Radaghast stood next to me and lightly touched my arm. I winced at the sudden pain, glancing at my arm and almost gagged. The bloody frickin Warg scratch me. Realizing what Radaghast wanted to do, I bent down so that Radaghast could tend to the wound.

"No one!" Thorin answered shouting, shocked that Gandalf would accuse him of such a thing.

"WHO DID YOU TELL!?" I looked down at Radaghast as he bandaged up my wound. This argument was going to give me one hell of a headache when it is all over.

"NO ONE! What in Durin's name is going on?" Thorin asked, his cheeks flushed.

"You are being hunted," Gandalf answered grimly.

We were being hunted. On my birthday. But this day started out so well . . .

AN: I am so sorry for the late update. I have been so busy with assessments and all, that i had barely time for writing. But I promise to have the next chapter up sooner. Hope that you are all enjoying your Easter. Reviews are welcomed :)
- Peaches