More than 500 visitors for this story. All of you are the reason I try and have a chapter out every morning. Nothing but love for all of you. Let me know how you like the progress of the story via reviews or PM. I love reading what people think and suggest about my story. Also, I know that Bree was a bit of a stretch in the time that lapsed, but I liked it more than Bywater that they stopped at in the book. Let's just pretend it was closer.
Ignore the repost! Had to fix some numbers.
Side note: Only Helena is mine
Chapter 9 On the road again...
Not more than ten minutes passed when the three received the food and drinks Thorin promised them. However it wasn't a dwarf that carried their refreshments, not to say one didn't accompany the bar maid. The brothers shifted closer to Helena as the bar maid leant down and placed the tray of mead and stew at their feet. When she straightened up, she offered a smile but was only offered two stiff nods from the males and no words. She turned on her heel and Bofur followed her after throwing a wink at them. He heard two grunts behind him before Helena's voice called out. "Thank you for bringing this out in spite of the inconvenience." The barmaid stopped and looked behind her for the feminine voice. Seeing only the slim figure that the blonde dwarf was frowning at, she smiled again not knowing if the person could see her under the dark hood.
Helena watched the barmaid leave and Bofur right behind her. When she noticed Fili frowning at her, Helena inspected his face before asking "What?" She heard Kili snort from her other side.
Fili sighed and reached for the food before them, handing his One her share before grabbing his. "You shouldn't have said anything."
At her perplexed look, Kili continued "Part of the reason Uncle had us stay out here with you was to avoid the men, sober and drunk, who might think that you were accompanying us for different reasons than you are and try to take advantage." He grab the last mug and bowl before settling back.
Helena huffed in frustration, "Well if you wanted to keep my presence a secret, then you should have had better manners." She then ignored them in favor of her food.
Once all three were finish and dishes replaced on the tray, she laid back down only this time on her stomach and the brothers took up vigil on either side of her again. It wasn't until Helena's eyes began to droop from her body relaxing in the hay did Kili speak.
"I have a question."
"Obviously."
He glared at her playfully. "How old are you?" She didn't answer immediately, wondering what their reactions would be of her human age. "I mean, if Mahal made you an honorary dwarf, does your age change also? You said he shrunk you already."
Her voice caught as she had been about to tell him how old she was in her world when she heard Aulë's voice whisper through her head again. "Yes" Helena told them, her eyes focus off in the distance. "I was given the life span of a dwarf. In my world, as a human, I was twenty-four." She felt Fili stiffen at her side. "We reach our maturity at 18 years, here I was aged to…78. Seriously?" She looked slightly disgruntled at Aulë telling her how old she was. His presence lifted from her mind. "What age do dwarves live to?" Helena asked of Kili.
"Around 300." He answered grinning, his eyes laughing in amusement as they were focused on Fili.
"What is so funny?"
Kili regarded her in the same amusement. "Twenty-four in our culture makes you a child. But since you were aged to 78, you are past maturity."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"It is for the journey…" Kili started and Fili interrupted.
"Someone is coming." He glared at his brother to shut up about the age topic. He took out his dual swords, resting them on his shoulders as his elbows found purchase on his knees. Kili pulled his blade to rest the tip into the dirt next to his bent knee, hand on the pommel and eyes on the doorway. Fili placed a hand on Helena's lower back as she tried to get up. "Stay down" he hissed. Two figures appeared just within their vision of the stable's entrance and two pairs of eyes watched the strangers as they came closer, bodies stiffening and hands tightening on their weapons. It wasn't until the men walked past them, barely sparing a cursory glance, and out the back entrance leading into the alley way did the brothers relax. Their eyes still trained on the exit for a few minutes in case it was a trick. The three of them nearly jumped out of their skin when a voice rang out from the front entryway behind them.
"Well now, getting ready to fight?" Gandalf watched in amusement as the two dwarrows visibly jump and he saw Helena's legs stiffen. Fili spun to his feet, swords ready and Kili at his side in front of the girl, both effectively blocking her from view. They lowered their arms in relief upon seeing the wizard holding the reins of a black and white pony. "My, my, a little on edge are we?"
Upon hearing Gandalf speak more, Helena stood up and peeked between the shoulders of the two obstructing her view, her eyes brightening upon seeing the mare at his side. Darting around Kili's side as she knew he wouldn't grab her, she jogged up to the wizard excited. "Is she mine?" Helena asked bouncing on her toes.
Gandalf chuckled as he handed her the reins "She is now. The merchant hadn't named her yet, so I leave that pleasure up to you."
She rubbed the nose of the pony, "How much do I owe you?"
"Nothing." Her gaze sharpened, staring at him. "A gift for you, she didn't cost much so not to worry. Something about breeding colors."
Helena held his gaze, contemplating what he said as she heard Fili and Kili come up behind her. She stepped away from the horse, place her hand over her heart and bowed low to the wizard. "You have my many thanks."
He smiled down at her, watching as she raised her head again. Once she led the mare off to the other ponies holding her supplies, he turned to Fili. "A gift for finding your one" he said lowly.
Fili was momentarily stunned. "Thank you."
At his words, Gandalf turned to the entrance. "I shall go find the rest of the company, I'm sure Thorin's hour is just about up." He left them to help the young lady pack her pony.
The company of 15 were back on the road again despite Helena's protests that Bilbo would come. She rode at the back of the company with Fili and Kili, this time on her own horse whom had been named Tamesis. She had only spoken up once more soon after the headed out of Bree about waiting for Bilbo. Nori was looking at her thoughtfully as the town disappeared behind them. "How about a wager then." He suggested.
She regarded him for a second, "How much?"
He gave a fox like grin, "Whatever you wish to spend."
Helena gave her own grin. "Ten pieces says he'll come."
Nori's braided eyebrows shot up. Even the Durin brothers looked at her oddly. It may not be much in general, but on the road every piece of gold is treasured. "Are you sure?" She looked utterly amused as she nodded with certainty. "Your money" he shrugged. "Taking bets on whether the hobbit will show or not, Helena has ten on yes. Anyone else?" Nori called out to the other dwarves. At the shouts ringing out, he spurred his horse up to the front of the company. "Ori, write down the bets would you." He asked the dwarf pulling up alongside him.
They rode in peace after settling all bets, all the dwarves taken to amusing themselves in some way. For Kili, it was badgering Helena with questions, most of which she ignored much to Kili's chagrin. Not a half hour later did they hear a shout on the wind, "wait, wait!". Calls of 'Whoa' and 'Hold' echoed around the trees as everyone in the company turned on their horses to see Bilbo Baggins running up behind them with his contract in hand. Helena grinned wickedly, as did the two brothers beside her. Aside from them, only Bofur bet on Bilbo catching up to join the quest. She watched as he approached Balin, handing over the signed contract. Balin took the contract and inspected it with a pocket-glass. He then smiles at Bilbo, "Everything appears to be in order. Welcome, Master Baggins, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield."
Thorin caught the eyes of Gandalf as he opened his mouth to argue. He grunted and looked away, his expression unimpressed. "Give him a pony."
Helena watched as Fili and Kili rode past her to the hobbit who was babbling at the announcement. "…Fair share of walking holidays, you know. I even got as far as Frogmorton once-" He cut himself off with a wail as the brothers came on either side of him from behind, picked him up, and set him on Myrtle, the horse that had previously carried two of her bags. The brothers urged their horses around and trotted back to her side.
Oin's voice rang out ahead of her, "Come on, Nori, pay up. Go on."
Sacks of money began to fly through the air at that statement. A larger coin purse came sailing towards Helena, but before she could lift her arm a hand appeared in front of her to catch the bag and a leg pressed against hers. At her left, Fili held purse out by the strings. She held out her hand and the leather bag was placed gently in her hand. "How did you know he would come?"
As she put the coins with her other money, Helena smiled gently. "A few things, one of them being something your Uncle said to me." At his steady gaze, she elaborated. "Honor, loyalty, and a willing heart. That is what Thorin requested of me and they are characteristic that are strong in Bilbo. Along with a sense of adventure it seems." She looked forward towards Bilbo who was riding the pony looking quite terrified. When Myrtle neighed and tosses her head, she could see him stiffen further becoming more uncomfortable.
Bilbo watched as the sacks of coins were thrown through the air. "What's that about?"
"Oh, they took wagers on whether or not you'd turn up. Most of them bet that you wouldn't." Gandalf said supplying information to the hobbit.
Bilbo look up at the wizard he had known his whole life, "What did you think?"
Gandalf hummed before catching a sack of money tossed to him and putting it in his bag. "My dear fellow, I never doubted you for a second."
Bilbo sneezes loudly right after he had spoken. "Ohh. All this horse hair, I'm having a reaction." Bilbo searches his pockets for his handkerchief desperately, unable to find it, he looks up in shock. "No, no, wait, wait, stop! Stop! We have to turn around."
The entire company came to a halt, and the dwarves started objecting and asking what the problem was. But it was Gandalf whose voice rang clear as he was next to him. "What on earth is the matter?"
"I forgot my handkerchief."
At his words, Bofur tears a strip of cloth from his clothing and tosses it to Bilbo. "Here! Use this." Bilbo caught the rag, looking at it in disgust.
The dwarves laugh and the journey resumed as Thorin called out for them to move on.
"You'll have to manage without pocket-handkerchiefs and a good many other things, Bilbo Baggins, before we reach our journey's end." Gandalf said to him. "You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire, but home is now behind you; the world is ahead." He watched on as the hobbits eyes saddened as he lowered his hand holding the strip of cloth.
Helena observed Bilbo as his head lowered, then jerked back up and stiffen as his pony threw her head again. She spurred her horse to his side, "Welcome Bilbo" she said with a smile.
Bilbo turned and inspected the young lady at his side. "Thank you Miss Helena, I'm afraid you are one of few who will say that sincerely."
"Then ignore them Master Hobbit." She suggested. "Would you like me to show you the finer points of riding? It looks as though you haven't been within a few feet of a horse before."
Bilbo's face filled with gratitude.
The Durin brothers watched Helena from the back of the line as she talked to the hobbit, pointing at various places on his body. They saw the Halfling adjust his posture and relax slightly as the girl spoke to him. Kili chanced a look at his brother, wondering if he was upset at the loss of his One by his side. Instead, he saw Fili observing them in thought. "What's on your mind Nadad?"
Fili didn't answer as he wasn't about to voice the facts his thoughts had been about his One and children because of how she was treating Bilbo. Although she never touched him, he could see the care in her gestures and patience on her face. "Just wondering about a few things Nadadith. Nothing to worry about."
"Are you mourning the loss of your riding companion?"
Fili flash a rude sign to him in Iglishmek, causing his brother to laugh loudly and for Helena to glance back at them. He smiled at her and she turned her attention back to the hobbit who swayed dangerously as his pony side stepped. "She is far prettier to gaze upon than your ugly mug." When his brother let out an insulted sounding 'Oi!', Fili let out his own laugh. Truth was that he was uncomfortable with her not being next to his side. While he knew nothing would happen to her in the company, though he assumed most of them were unaware of Helena's status as Fili's One, he still didn't like her not being near enough to him. He preferred her to be within reaching distance from the moment he had laid eyes on her, just in case something were to happen.
Helena spent the rest of the day riding next to the hobbit, correcting his posture and kept him talking about his life in the shire to keep his mind steady and body relaxed. It was dusk when Thorin announced they were going to make camp for the night and the company sat in waiting as Fili and Kili were sent to scout ahead. Throughout the day keeping occupied with Bilbo, her mind strayed to Fili more often than not. She could feel his eyes on her back the entire time she was in front of him, not that it bothered her much. It made her feel safe instead of being hostile. At one point Helena gave thought if he was feeling the loss of her presence as she did his. Her mind wondered the idea of One's among the dwarf culture, and even though she had hers in Fili, it was still perplexing to say the least. Soulmates didn't really exist in her world unless you believed it to be true. But here in Middle Earth, she could feel the connection. And while it made her feel loved and filled her with a type of excitement, it scared her. It was unknown territory for her, and one she had sworn never to venture into. So much for that.
**Tamesis- English for Dark One
