Writhing in the sun, the trolls could make no effort to waddle free from its glare and into the shadows, as they began to stiffen, and locked into solid statues before my very eyes, in the last position they managed to find themselves in.

Without their groans and heavy breathing, I was so overcome by the silence of all of those who remained to be flesh, and therefore stunned, that I actually fell to my knees, despite the new weightlessness I now had, due to the worry I had been harbouring, dispersing into pure and joyous relief.

I don't know why, but I actually began laughing, while the others now free from being made a meal, cheered at the Wizards victory, who still stood on the halved rocks, smiling bemusedly at the company's current state, and enjoying it, I had no doubt, as the complaining began.

However, their complaints and bickering for me, was just another assurance that everyone was well, and I swiftly got back up onto my feet and launched for the huddled group, still in their sacks, making for the one dwarf, in particular, that was my husband.

"Thorin!"

My arms were quick to wrap around his neck and I squeezed him tight to my body, lifted up and down with his deep sigh a couple of times, when it sunk into his mind, that I too was alright; then with that settled, I gladly took my scolding off of him with a smile, and loosened the string which kept him bound.

"By Durin! Is this what I can expect from you, from here on out!"

Not much room for any dignity, Thorin scampered out of his fabric prison, and healed the embarrassment by standing tall once again, glaring at me.

"secrets and mischief… do I need to monitor you every second of the day?"

His large hand cradling around to the back of my head, I lay mine on top and shrugged with some debate over whether or not, his proposal would be for the best, if we were to avoid any more situations like this. Only, I was but one dwarf in a large group, and mischief is something we are all in the habit of partaking in, willingly or not, so it goes without saying that Thorin's eye, would need to watch out for us all, and still I believe he wouldn't have much luck in avoiding another run in with something unsavoury.

This he must have realised himself, and he pressed his lips against my forehead, knowing he can do nothing but trust that we will conquer every obstacle, like we had this one.

By the skin of our teeth that is.

"…my curly headed lass."

Another peck, we two then liberated everyone else, who were like nagging caterpillars wanting to be rid of their cocoons.

"quieten down now lads," I encouraged, looking over my shoulder at those on the spit, "it could have been worse; don't you think?"

I slapped the back of Gloin's arm, "come on, either help put the fire out, or climb up and cut them loose. We shouldn't linger here."

Crouched down, Kili came around to my side, and offered his hand to help me up, confused.

"aunt Gaia," he asked, "what happened?"

Referring to our original plan concerning the trolls, I had promised to give a signal and make swift work of the trolls. But lost in my thoughts, I had let them down, which had caused my nephews to search for aid elsewhere in their uncle, and should Gandalf not have turned back…

"I'm sorry lad, I have no excuse other than I allowed my thoughts to distract me from the matter at hand. And it is something; I shall strive not to let happen again."

He didn't delve any further and took my word for it, as he clambered up the make shift ladder of dwarves to cut the rope of the spit.

I watched him go with a pang of guilt, because I knew that there was some emptiness that rang in the claim, for I barely believed that I could stop thinking about Thorne whenever something stirred my memory, and I knew then for certain, that when I was reminded, I could not control the state I found myself in, as a result.

"-but I will strive to be stronger," I whispered.

Dori, Nori, Ori.

I checked them off as they hit the ground with a smack.

Dwalin, Bifur, Bofur; they too were all unscathed, if a little red faced, and they were sorting through the pile of weapons when Thorin approached me after his talk with the wizard, which thankfully did not end in Gandalf leaving this time, though he was ushering people to quicken their haste.

"what's going on?" I asked, seeing as something was astir between he and the wizard.

"were on an adventure my love, and a need for provisions is paramount, and what are trolls known for?"

I deliberated, gazing at the stone figures casting the sort of shadows that could have spared them and then it clicked.

"a troll horde."

With the three trolls having greater feet than we dwarves, their tracks were easy things too follow, as well as the odd uprooted tree, and the dark place which they had once claimed, was easily smelt before actually seen.

One whiff of that foul stench and my stomach instantly turned.

I released Thorin's hand and clasped my nostrils shut, "where you may go, I shall follow, but I am afraid troll caves have become the breaker of that vow, my love."

He smirked, with a twinkle in his eye.

"very well. Try not to get into any more mischief while I'm gone."

Joined by few others, I perched myself down on a rock appreciating the small peace, but when Bilbo sat before me, I cannot say I was bothered in the least and smiled at him, warmly.

"miss Gaia."

I raised a brow at him, "no; just Gaia. We need no formalities here. For if there is need to call out to one another, titles and the like will take too long surely."

He chuckled at my jest and clasped his hands together in front of him, turning to peek over his shoulder, where Fili and Kili were brooding because of their uncle having given pony duty over to Dori. Can't say I blamed him, when we couldn't afford to be side tracked again like we had done with the trolls, and after this cave I suppose we shall continue on as we have been; walking until exhausted.

I sighed, wondering if we might tread on roads I had once shared with my father, for I found that I would like the reminder of anything that might have transpired between us then, whether it be an argument over his lack of direction, or conversations concerning the mother I never met, and made the hardened Mighton soften.

Lost in thought, Bilbo had to clear his throat to capture my attention, and I begged his pardon, having not meant to blank him as I must have done.

"uh," he mumbled, with a smirk, "I've been wanting to thank you Gaia. Fili and Kili, they told me what you were willing to do for my sake. And I am very grateful."

He scratched the back of his sandy head, his mouth still twitching into that smirk. We hadn't spoken one to one since we were back in the Shire, and even then he needed some movement, something to fidget over to distract himself from his nerves so he could say what he wanted to.

I wasn't used to someone who was shy. There was no dwarf that was, for even the quieter of our company, being Ori of course, was not so because he was scared to say anything, but because his brother's did most of the talking for him, which was a common thing among siblings, since Fili had done the same with Kili.

The only difference being that they eventually grew out of it, when those other three brothers, remained to act towards one another, as they did when they were younger.

However, what struck me more than his nervousness, was that I read between the lines of his words, where there seemed to be another meaning, and while I had caught it, I couldn't help but ask, "you say that as if I weren't at liberty to do so."

Bilbo winced and looked down at his rough bare feet, "well… I'm not like the others. You know them."

My mouth opened with the realisation that I had been right to chase him for the confirmation in my suspicion. And that was, that the Hobbit did not think himself worth the effort of saving, so he must think I hold some animosity for doing what I did then, when that was not the case at all.

Reaching out, I took Bilbo's hand in mine, which surprised him and held it tightly.

"yes, and I'm getting to know you too. Bilbo, you are a part of this company and I will risk my life for you time and time again if need be, the same as I would do for anyone else. Don't think you're not worth it, because as soon as you start believing that; that is when it becomes the truth."

I was determined to be quite serious with him to make him see that this wasn't just some mangy offering of false politeness.

If any of us were going to survive, we needed to know that we had one another to rely on should we falter, or if things take a dangerous turn. Out here in the wild, it was highly likely that an encounter like we had, had with the trolls will happen again, and if that be so, we all needed trust those who stand on either side of us.

Besides, if I remember correctly after Bilbo had been captured the second time amidst the fighting, Kili too had called out to him in worry, thus I was not the hobbits sole ally, which was proven all the more when the wizard emerged from the cave carrying something.

He looked around briefly, until he spotted the hobbit and I sat near to each other and came our way as we watched.

"Bilbo," he beamed rather pleased with himself at the object he gave to the Halfling, "This is about your size."

I chuckled at the truth of it, for the thing was a sword, smaller than any I had seen, or that which my father would have dared to fashion, making me wonder who the original owner might have been.

Skinny in its sheath, and hardly robust as dwarf blades are, for Bilbo, I thought it suited him well.

"now you can do your own fighting," I nodded approvingly, and left them both to it when I intended to go see how my pony was doing, only I didn't make it very far.

In warning, Thorin shouted having exited the cave, "Something's coming!"

I could have sighed from the frustration of being right in my claim that more trouble was yet to come, but so soon after the last lot of bother?

Armed with my bow and two axes hanging on each hip, there wasn't much point in wallowing about it, and as the maddened rustling in the trees, being what I guessed to be the danger, grew louder, we stuck together and ventured into the forest, not knowing of we were going to meet it head on, or wait for it to find us.

The latter was what came to pass, and while we were expressing vicious sneers and gripping our weaponry in preparation for another fight, the foe…was not what we had expected.

Not in the least.

Having been riding at full speed in a sleigh drawn by rabbits, it was a miracle he had stopped in time before he could have crashed into us all huddled together, and though he was the absurd intruder, it was he who initiated the maddened shouting.

"Thieves! Fire! Murder!"

He had certainly startled us all, whoever this person was, and if you could imagine someone having been buried in the depths of the earth, with all manners of little insects and worms keeping them company, only to claw their way back out the soil again after some weeks, this man was that very image come to life.

In a long brown robe, to match his long beard and hair, as well as the hat atop his head…he shouldn't do, but he did in fact put me in mind of Gandalf a bit.

Then the Wizard gave the strange figure a name.

"Radagast! Radagast the Brown."

Gandalf was chuckling like he had been stupidly too slow in conjuring it, when the man had first appeared, except that amusement did not last, and he narrowed his gaze slightly.

"What on earth are you doing here?"

I'm sure that was the question everyone else wished to ask too, and as I squinted hard it was Fili who was standing behind him at my angle, squinting at the side of the strangers face, and noticing me, began to demonstrate his suspicion of what was on Radagast by signalling to his own face.

I wasn't in the mood for any more confusion, and looked to see what Fili was talking about and truly, I wished I hadn't bothered, because I almost gagged when I saw the trail of bird poo that seemed to stream down from Radagast's hat.

My hand flew to my mouth, and I had to swallow back the vile, thinking 'cheers for that one Fili,' as the youngster was silently laughing at my reaction.

Counting to soothe the revulsion away, the wizards went off a few paces ahead to speak more privately, without no more of an explanation, which caused a stir among the dwarves, but none so more than in Thorin and Dwalin.

"what do you suppose their talking about."

Arms folded, it couldn't be a comfortable position for Dwalin, with his brass knuckles rubbing against his muscle, but Thorin's friend was too busy holding the wizards in contempt to care if he was being irritated.

The two dwarf men glaring menacingly, I innocently started tipping myself up and down on my toes, "ways to lure us in an elven trap, maybe?"

Dwalin turned his glare to me, trying to disguise the fact that my teasing had affected him at all, while my husband claimed my shoulder, doing the same thing as Dwalin, in trying to keep a stern face.

"not funny."

I shrugged, seeing that his eyes were telling a different story, "oh I think it is."

The wizards were far that we couldn't properly read their lips, and wearing such heavy clothing, plus those bushy beards, it was hard to make sense of their body language, to tell what they might be feeling. This annoyed Dwalin who had a knack for lip reading.

"he's a queer one, that Radagast."

I couldn't deny the dwarf warrior that, but as I turned my head around Thorin where Bofur was helping Bombur relieve an unsavoury itch with a stick, I couldn't prevent the snort that came out of me.

"have you happened to look around at the group were travelling with?" I asked, "There's nothing wrong with a touch of madness."

As my father had said once, 'no one is under any obligation, to make sense to anyone else. They can only be who they are. And if they don't like it, then the fault is purely their own.'

He had told me that after I admitted to him the passion I had to learn how to fight.

In fact, it was when I had boldly asked the training master if I could join in on his lesson that I was laughed at by the two princes, with one being Frerin, and the other my husband, when we were children.

Girls aren't meant to fight they had claimed, and that I was stupid to think otherwise, making me feel as though there was something wrong with me.

However, my father had soon rectified that and had ended up training me himself, proving Thorin and his brother wrong indeed, and if you look hard enough, though his beard covered most of it up now, you would see the angry red line, that served as a reminder of that wrong.

As I caught a glimpse of the scar I spoke of, so did I see Thorin smile at me.

"can you form a negative thought in that head of yours…" he pondered.

"if I can't, you have to trust that it only works to your benefit, Grumpy!"

Other than when we were alone, lately Thorin rarely bantered back and forth with me since he was under the stress of what it was we were setting out to do, and I was enjoying seeing his mood lighten, until something caught his ear and swiftly swept aside any room for playing games.

"do you hear that," he hissed under his breath, and in all honesty I could not, while he and Dwalin spaced off away from me to listen out for this mysterious noise again.

I was concerned over what it could be, but the brush was so thick, it made it impossible to tell if there was anything watching us, and then the sound returned; only much louder, for us all to hear.

Alerted by the howl, Bilbo asked, "was that a wolf? Are there wolves out there?"

Granted, if you haven't been acquainted much with the howl of a wolf, you would not know that compared with this beast, it was much too dog like, since the source for this howl resembled an ogre's moan, rather too well.

Surrounded by crag's, I had my back turned to where everyone saw the mangy thing appear and with a growl, it leapt off from the stone and darted straight towards me, having been distracted in another direction.

Luckily, as it knocked me to the ground with its weight, Thorin landed his blade on the beast's neck, to prevent any further damage it intended to do to me, after its powerful claws managed to pierce through my chainmail.

The sharp pain made me cry out loud, and I locked my jaw to keep from shouting abuse at the creature Thorin dragged off of me, but while he was busy, two more of its kind attacked from the other side, until they were killed by Kili and Dwalin.

"Gaia!"

From panic, Thorin was breathing, but none of the air was going into his lungs. He was too frantic to get me back up onto my feet again, to make sure that I was alright, and for the most part I was, although I'll admit, I didn't want to raise my arm any time soon, and seeing the blood seeping through my armour, it was all Thorin could concentrate on.

I could tell that he was blaming himself for this, and I grabbed his face to make him look up at me instead of where my wound was.

"listen to me; I'm alright Thorin!"

His eyes flickered to the wound, and with my persistence, he actually drew in a proper breath.

"Warg-Scouts!" he snarled, "Which means an Orc pack is not far behind."

"Orc pack?"

Thanks to the stories Bilbo had been made privy to since being with us, his hand flew to the hilt of his sword in fear as Gandalf pushed past him, challenging Thorin, which was not the best thing to do, though I understood his wariness.

"Who did you tell about your quest, beyond your kin?"

"No one," Thorin murmured, while bringing me closer to him, as he turned with more vigour towards Gandalf who asked more briskly again, if he had told someone beyond the dwarves.

"No one, I swear. Now what in Durin's name is going on?"

I don't think Gandalf believed Thorin, and surveyed our surroundings, expecting another ambush.

"You are being hunted."

By orcs? But who would set them up to it…

my thoughts must have been the same as Dwalin's, who had his axe at the ready, advising that we leave these close quarters, which wouldn't pan out in our favour, depending on the number of the enemy, who would have the higher ground if they found us.

Unfortunately, luck was not on our side as Ori called, "We can't! We have no ponies; they bolted."

Even with ponies, they would not have been a match against the speed of a Warg, and on foot, I couldn't say that I was liking where this was going, and Thorin clutched me tighter protectively.

We were all in the throes of hopelessness, when Radagast thought to help, in the one way that would be of use.

"I'll draw them off!"

None really had any confidence in him, not even Gandalf.

"These are Gundobad Wargs; they will outrun you."

taken aback, the strange delusion that made you wonder what he might be thinking, when his mind must certainly not match the subject he was talking about left, and he clutched his hand into a determined fist.

"These are Rhosgobel Rabbits; I'd like to see them try."

…..

Waiting at the border of the forest, Gandalf was to be our guide in all of this, as the howling worsened, as well as the pounding of the Wargs paws being heard to indicate how very close they were to us.

We were to wait for the signal, which wasn't anything subtle, for as soon as Radagast burst through the bushes, yelling at the orcs to follow him, he drew all attention to him, which allowed us to sneak off to a boulder, as quickly as we could.

There, Gandalf watched as Radagast rode down the dip of a hill, with the orcs in tow, and we began to run across grass and rocky seas.

"come on!" the wizard ushered.

My wound wasn't stopping me from running of course, but Thorin was none too convinced, and he kept looking back to make sure I was keeping up with everyone.

"never mind me!" I scolded, "just look where you're going."

In the distance, Radagast was still being chased in our place, when one of the orcs crashed while trying to catch him, and we took advantage of the moment and ran across the plain, stopping when some of the Wargs were not too far away, on another path, and we hid behind some more rocks.

Having passed by, this was all a matter of chance now, and it was much the same, where we ran to the nearest cover.

Not burdened with any supplies, we were moving at a good pace, and Thorin stayed put to count the heads that ran off, to keep track of us all, and as the last, I caught him asking Gandalf where the wizard was leading us, to which the wizard didn't answer him back.

Cutting it close, Radagast's sleigh made us stop abruptly in our path, and we must have made a mistake somewhere, for now a Warg had caught our scent, from being so near to us.

The beasts sharp sniffing will betray our position, so there was nothing else for it but to bring the Warg and its rider down, only I was unable to use my bow, with my arm the way it was, but we did have another archer.

Back against the rock, Thorin signalled to Kili's weapon, who then exchanged a glance with me, his mentor.

No doubt he was thinking back on trying to shoot down those rabbits and failing, except the target here was much larger and not so far away.

In fact, the creatures were right on top of us, and I nodded in encouragement to my nephew.

My belief was just what he needed, and he threw himself in the line of fire, releasing an arrow before the Warg or the orc could make any move towards him, once and then twice, making both fall near the rest of the company.

The only problem was, that in their pain, both Warg and orc were screeching far too loudly and we knew we had been found out, no matter if this one rider among the pack, was dead.

The vengeful howling erupted, and Radagast was no longer being pursued.

"move; run!"

The wizard did not need to tell us, and if we thought our speed had been impressive before, it had nothing on us now with the Wargs jaws snapping at our feet to keep us motivated.

Our weapons clattering on our backs and against our thighs, I could imagine they were going to be put in use soon, as Gloin pointed out that the enemy was beginning to surround us.

Gandalf urged us onwards for a little while longer, but more and more seemed to appear out of nowhere.

"Kili, shoot them!" Thorin ordered, but the lad couldn't take them all down.

With my arm protesting, I thought to help him and shot down an orc myself, but I regretted it having disturbed the wound, which must have been deeper than I had thought, for the blood flow suddenly poured out from where it could.

"Ah!"

I could not stop the cry as my vision blurred and then the wizard who had disappeared suddenly popped out from some more rocks.

"this way, you fools!" he advised, and having no other choice, everyone abided, with the first lot of dwarves seemingly sliding down to somewhere.

Moving for the same place, I was unsteady on my feet when a Warg was pounding straight for my husband.

"Thorin! On your right!"

With one easy slice, he cut the beast down into a heap as it got close, and I met up with Fili who hooked his arm beneath mine to support me, which I was grateful for.

Holding me, he and I then joined everyone else in a dark crevice, followed by Kili and then last came Thorin, just in the nick of time, for in the mouth of the crevice where he had just been standing, we could see the orcs shadows looming above us, when suddenly a horn was sounded, taking them off guard, as well as us.

Arrows flying and flesh being cut, it was obvious that there was conflict happening, and with a screech, a body rolled down to land in the gravel.

Unmoving, Thorin leaned over and plucked out the arrow that had killed the thing, looking at the fine silver head engraved with filigree.

A race was easily distinguished here in middle earth, when all one has to do was look at their weapons.

None was the same, and on this occasion, this particular style of arrow belonged to no other race, but-

"elves."

As if the thing had scorched him, Thorin dropped it with disgust, and beheld Gandalf with utter disdain.

Braving to venture off to find a way out from here, Dwalin hollered, "There's a pathway at the end of the cave. Do we follow it or no?"

What lay at the end of it, I couldn't picture it being worse than what we had encountered these past couple of hours, from trolls, to Wargs and orcs. Although, I would hate it if I had spoken to soon, and we now walked down the gullet of another monstrous being, and straight into its belly.

But what choice did we have, and I was too proud to burden my nephew and pushed him on as I used the wall to guide me, feeling…shaky.

narrow, the cave was actually a crack between two tall cliffs, and we dwarves had difficulty getting through, with Bombur having to be forcefully booted or pushed to squeeze him out of the opening that thankfully appeared at the end, bright with sunlight.

One by one, as we exited the darkness, water ran down the precipice we stood on the edge of, and into a valley, where set beautifully before us was Rivendell, or 'The Valley of Imraldis' as Gandalf put it.

To my husband, though, it didn't matter what the place was called, when it still homed a people he was none too fond of.

"This was your plan all along, to seek refuge with our enemy."

I knew that comment was coming, the same as the wizard who had armed himself with a reply at the ready, as I slumped my body more so on the wall.

And my vision…it was getting worse now the adrenaline was lessening.

"You have no enemies here, Thorin Oakenshield. The only ill-will to be found in this valley is that which you bring yourself."

I tried to open my mouth and speak, but I just didn't seem to have the strength.

"thor…" I slurred, as my husband argued with Gandalf.

"Do you think the Elves will give our quest their blessing? They will try to stop us."

I licked my lips, to bring them back some moisture, and tried again.

"thori…"

Whether my eyes were closed or I had lost my sight, I could not tell the difference, all I knew was that I could not see anything but a black curtain.

"Of course they will. But we have questions that need to be answered. If we are to be successful, this will need to be handled with tact and respect and no small degree of charm. Which is why you will leave the talking to me."

I was cold; was that why I was shaking?

So, so cold, that I was somewhat numb to the touch of a hand that was on my arm.

"-Gaia, are you alright?"

No, I was not alright at all, which was what I had wanted to say to who I had guessed was Bilbo, but my body saved me the bother of trying to speak, and collapsed like a sack of potatoes, and any consciousness I had left; was gone.

...

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