6. The beginning of an adventure

After I was accepted as a replacement for Bilbo, many of the company came to me to shake hands.

Dori sank so low as to thank Aüle to give them such agreeable company. But he seemed so sincere I didn't have the heart to talk him out of it.

Fili and Kili fought again to be the first to kiss my knuckles. It seemed to me like they would start a brotherly competition to win my heart, but they were really far from winning it, to be true.

Ori offered his service should I ever need someone to take notes for me.

Which made me think a long while before going to bed.

I'd need to write notes about our journey – or the journey as it should have been, for I was certain it would not go as it did the book – to give Bilbo when I came back. Better not mess this shit too much.

It appeared Bilbo had prepared all of his guest-rooms for us. I'd sleep alone, of course, as a woman. Gandalf would share the best room besides Bilbo's with Thorin. Dori, Nori and Ori would sleep together in another, Fili and Kili in the last one.

The rest settled onto their bedrolls in the living-room.

Well, the rest...

"Mind my company, lass?"

I was standing out the door, breathing in fresh air and thinking really hard about a way to stop messing with things and make sure this story would happen as it should.

I had already packed one of Bilbo's most detailed maps of the west of the Misty Mountains, in case. I had my trinkets with me, had packed a blanket Bilbo had given me with the excuse that it was too light to match his bedroom colours, and had taken ribbons from his sewing kit to tie my hair.

But I hadn't thought much about company.

So I turned around to see Bofur, his long pipe between his teeth, his grey eyes settled high onto the stars.

I smiled. "Not at all." I sat onto the bench next to the door.

Bofur soon came to sit next to me, still looking at the stars. "Some I don't recognize."

I lifted my own gaze, but even if I had a little knowledge of star-gazing – which I hadn't – I wouldn't have recognized the Shire's constellations. "Neither do I." Then a chuckle escaped my lips. "I'm sure Bilbo has a map somewhere for this too."

Bofur's gaze locked onto mine, and he was quizzical. "Do you know him well?"

I shook my head. "I met him this morning. But spending half the day studying maps of the Shire made me realise he surely had one for all alternatives."

He nodded. "Aye." Then a silence stretched, only disturbed by owls and other creatures of the night running about in fields.

Long down in Hobbiton, could be heard the echoes of a party.

"Are ye sure ye are qualified enough to come with us?"

I turned my gaze and stared at Bofur. "Yes, I am sure. Are you concerned?"

He shrugged. "The East Road is no easy part, lass."

I smirked in the night. "I assure you, Bofur, I'll be fine."

He remained silent for another long moment.

I cut it. It had become too thick for my comfort. "I'd better go and have some sleep."

He inhaled deeply from his pipe, and the smoke escaped by his nostrils. "I bid yer goodnight, Miss Ari."

I bowed my head, a small smile gracing my lips. "Goodnight, Bofur."

I woke up late, the next morning. Of course, after such a night.

When I escaped my slumber, Bilbo was already running around in his house, dusting, washing, whistling, and...packing.

I rubbed my eyes and yawned noisily while entering the kitchen. "Good morning, Bilbo."

He jumped a little at the sound of my voice. "Ah, Miss Ari, awake at last! Here," he handed me a note, "the dwarves have left that for you."

I thanked him and opened the folded paper.

"Thorin and Company to Burglar Ari greeting!

For your offer of professional assistance our grateful acceptance. Terms: cash on delivery, up to and not exceeding one fourteenth of total profits (if any); all travelling expenses guaranteed in any event; funeral expenses to be defrayed by us or our representatives, if occasion arises and the matter is not otherwise arranged for.

Please note the following risks: lacerations, evisceration, incineration.

Thinking it unnecessary to disturb your esteemed repose, we have proceeded in advance to make requisite preparations, and shall await your respected person at the Green Dragon Inn, Bywater, at 11 am sharp. Trusting that you will be punctual,

We have the honour to remain,

Yours deeply,

Thorin & Co."

I looked up and gulped.

Bilbo had prepared a backpack for me, and by the look of it I would not miss a single thing – except perhaps a handkerchief. "Bilbo? What is all this?"

He whirled around. He seemed gleeful now that the matter had been taken in other hands than his. "Oh, I prepared a little something for your trekking. Blankets, pillows, bedrolls, slippers, spare shirts – I thought you wouldn't mind have some of mine, we're not so different in size – so on."

"Slippers?"

He nodded. "Oh, and a water-jug, of course. For bathing."

I gaped. "Why, uh... Thanks, Bilbo. A lot." Then my gaze fell onto the clock hanging on the mantelpiece. It was already half past ten. "Bilbo, where's the Green Dragon Inn, exactly?"

He eyed me weirdly. "You surely have passed it when coming here, Miss Ari! It's a green-roofed inn at the end of the east road leading to Bree. You can't have missed it."

I faked a smile. "Yes, of course. I was a little sleepy at that time. Well, dear Bilbo, thank you for all. Really. You have been nice to me even if you don't know me that well."

"Nonsense. I liked your company. I bid you the good day, and good luck."

I wrapped the backpack onto my shoulders, and took the walking-stick he presented me. "I shall come back and talk for hours."

He smiled kindly while accompanying me to the door. "And I'll be waiting."

And then...I left Bag End.

The journey to the Green Dragon was quite long, and I wasn't accustomed to running so early in the morning, not in those shoes.

I arrived, panting, an ache in my ribs I couldn't quite stand, at precisely eleven, on the inn's doorstep.

Balin was waiting for me. "Bravo, Miss Ari!" I shook his hand and tried to make some air enter my lungs.

"Sorry I'm almost late. I didn't realise the inn was so far from the hole."

"No problem, lassie. Here the boys come!"

I looked over my shoulder, and there they were. The rest of the company had bought provisions and a cauldron and herbs for Oin, and had packed it on the backs of ponies.

Thorin was sitting on the largest, a white mare by the name of Minty.

He handed Balin his own pony's reins. "Up you two go, we have to go."

I looked behind, and saw that the last pony not bearing a dwarf was at the back, and that it was Bombur who had the reins in hand.

I took it from him and I pushed myself up in the stirrups.

Fili and Kili's ponies soon were surrounding mine. "You've already ridden, of course, Miss Ari."

I rolled my eyes but decided against being disagreeable so early. "Yes, I have. Many times." It was a lie, of course. I had ridden twice in my life, and neither was I the one directing the horse. But I still knew how to stay up on the beast while it moved around.

Kili smirked at his brother, his green eyes reflecting the sunlight. "See, I told you!" Then he produced a bow from his backpack, and handed it to me, a quiver full of arrows following not long after.

My eyes widened at his offering. "What for?"

He shrugged. "In my little experience, women prefer to wield bows. I had a spare one, and it's too short for my arm. It should be perfect for you though. D'you know how to fire?"

I gulped and nodded, thought quite not so sure as I wrapped the quiver on my back. "Though I never did before."

"I'll teach you." Kili smiled to me, then sent an ugly smile to his brother.

"Oi, boys, stop annoying the lady and come 'ere, yer uncle needs ye!"

They both grunted, but kicked their ponies up the road to meet their uncle's.

I met Bofur's eyes, and smiled. He was wearing the inuit hat, and it gave him an even more mischievous look. I couldn't help but gape a little.

He chuckled and winked at me.

I made my pony fall to pace beside Bombur's, and thus started my journey.