Elrond removed the bandage around her middle that helped to keep her ribs in place. Her birthmark stood out even more now that the black and blue bruises were fading to a yellow brown color. Elrond said nothing about it, but Daisy knew he knew.

Daisy was allowed to walk around the next day, but was told to take it easy. She didn't wander much, but helped the dwarves get ready to leave early the next morning.

But she did get some time to herself, which she used to explore the gardens she had heard so much about. As she walked she saw Elrond approaching her, and she greeted him.

"Lord Elrond, thank you for healing me, I was about to go out of my mind having to be still for a week, I don't think I could stay like that for much longer," she said.

"It was nothing," he replied with a smile. "But I was wondering, are you aware of what your birthmark is?"

"Yes," she sighed. "I heard Thorin tell Bilbo about the mark of Durin yesterday. I know what it is."

"Why do you not tell him? It is something he should know, something they all should know," Elrond questioned her.

"I still barely know them, and would hate to cause any awkwardness or tension. I don't want this to change the way they see me. I do plan to tell them, but right now isn't the right time."

The next day they rose before the sun and left Rivendell. Gandalf was not with them yet, he still had a few things to take care of in the Hidden Valley. They were to wait for him in the mountains.

So they traveled up into the mountains. Once they were well up it started to rain, and then thunderstorm. Soon everyone was soaked, and even Daisy's thick, curly hair could not keep the back of her neck dry.

The more it rained, the more slippery the path became, and Bilbo almost fell off a couple times, much to the annoyance of Thorin, who was having a hard time keeping from snapping at the poor, drenched hobbit.

Then rocks started to fly, and Balin yelled out, "This is not a thunder storm, it's a thunder battle!"

Sure enough part of the mountain detached from its self and stood up; it was a rock giant. Another rock giant stood up, and the company realized that they were standing on the legs of one. The mountain under them separated and split the company.

Daisy and Bilbo were in the front group with Kili and several other dwarves. At one point the giant came very close to the mountain side and they were able to jump off. To the others it looked like they had been squashed by the giant.
They ran over screaming their names, and were relieved to find everyone alright. Well, almost everyone.

"Where's the burglar?" Dwalin asked.

A frantic search found Bilbo hanging from the side of the mountain, for it was slippery and treacherous in the rain. They hauled him up, but not without some heart stopping moments, including when Thorin climbed down to help him.

"He's been lost ever since he stepped foot out his door, he never should've come!" Thorin said, shouting to be heard over the rain. "We must find shelter, and soon!"

Daisy put an arm around Bilbo to comfort him as they searched for a cave or something.

A cave was soon found, and the dwarves and two hobbits settled in for the night. Thorin put a watch though, for even though the cave was not deep, caves in the mountains are seldom unoccupied.

Bilbo waited for everyone to fall asleep before he got up and silently packed his bedroll. He had almost made it out of the cave when he was stopped by Bofur, who was on watch.

"Where are you going?" he asked surprised.

"Back to Rivendell. I don't belong here, never have. It's best I just leave."

"But you can't do that, you're one of us!" Bofur protested.

"That's just it, I'm not!"

"Bilbo, you're just homesick, I understand," Bofur said sympathetically.

"No you don't, you don't have a home, a place where you belong, you're used to wandering!" Bilbo said. Bofur's face fell and Bilbo realized that his words came out much different than he intended. "I'm sorry," he added.

Daisy heard them talking, and she too got up and tip toed over sleeping dwarves to stand by Bilbo. "If you're so set on going back, then I'm going with you," she said.

"No, Daisy, you have to stay. You belong here more than me," Bilbo said.

"It's not about whether or not I belong; it's that you're my brother, Bilbo. Yes, I don't want to leave, but I'm sticking with you. That's what family does."

"But what about your birthmark? Shouldn't you stay because of that?"

"Yes, I should, but that's just unfortunate. You're my brother, and I'm sticking with you the best I can," she said.

Thorin lay there in silence, wanting to jump up and say something. True, Bilbo was very out of place, but now that he was with them Thorin didn't really want him to go. He really didn't want Daisy to go, as he was now forming more clues and guesses as to what her birthmark was.

"Wait, what's that?" Bofur asked. Bilbo's sword was shining blue. Orcs or goblins were near.

Thorin heard gears click underneath them, now was the time to say something. "Wake up, everyone, goblins!" he shouted.

Then the floor opened up beneath them and they all fell down a chute, Bilbo and Daisy included. They landed in a kind of basket, where goblins came and corralled them along flimsy wooded paths built on the insides of the mountain. Bilbo bent down and managed to remain unnoticed, not so for Daisy. She was herded on with the dwarves, and didn't even notice Bilbo's absence.

The goblins took them to a landing, where the giant, fat goblin king sat.

"What brings dwarves armed into my kingdom!" he boomed.

All the dwarves and Daisy remained silent. The goblin king gave them a minute to respond, but still nothing.

"Fine then, if they won't talk, then we'll make them squawk!" he said. "Start with the youngest," he looked right at Daisy and the goblins pulled her out of the safety of the dwarves.