On the borders of the shire the girls quietly rode on their ponies along the pathway which was lined with lush trees which were filled with birdsong. The girls had about sixteen ponies altogether with the girls riding on twelve of them whilst the other four were used for carrying supplies. Gillian rode on the large horse near the group's center as they discussed among themselves about Brianna's absence.

"I thought for sure she would come." Beate said.

"I knew she wouldn't come." Daniella replied "The wild is no place for someone like her."

"We'll have to make due without her." Nadja added.

"Nadja's right." Gerlinde went on "Gillian's here with us anyway. Smaug's got no chance."

"Now, girls, remember..." Gillian chimed in "Dragons aren't easy to kill. If you wish to succeed in this-"

"Wait!" a voice called out "Wait for the me!"

Everybody suddenly stopped in their tracks and turned in astonishment to see Brianna running after them contract in hand. Gillian then smiled confidently, assured in the fact that Brianna had finally made up her mind. Brianna quickly caught up with them and got up to Barbara, Traude, Bertha, Gerlinde and Ophelia who were in the front row, stopping in front of the former two to catch her breath.

"I-I signed it." she panted heavily.

Barbara then took the contract and looked over it carefully. As she did so, Brianna turned to look at the others.

"Good gracious, Brianna, did you run all the way here?" Gerlinde asked.

Brianna just nodded and as Brianna fixed herself up and brushed the dirt off her hem, she took a look at Traude. A shaft of light shone through the trees and it looked as if a crown of sunshine was on her dark hair. She looked very noble in the sunlight, indeed much like royalty.

"Everything seems to be in order." Barbara said as she folded the contract "Welcome Miss Baggins...to the company of Traude Oakenshield."

All the rest of the girls who had remained quiet then promptly clapped in approval. Traude just smiled and nodded her head.

"Give the woman a pony." she said.

"Oh no it's not necessary!" Brianna insisted "I'll be just fine walking."

"She can take mine!" Beate piped up "I can ride with Bridget."

"That's such nonsense!" Gerlinde barked "We've got four ponies without riders, so let's give her one."

Beate tried to speak up but stammered a little. "B-But I want to he-"

"Too late." Nadja interjected "Our minds are made up."

Gerlinde quietly trotted over and gripped the reigns of one of the four free ponies and then guided it to where Brianna was standing, while Beate looked disappointed though no one noticed. She then let go of the reigns and motioned for Brianna to climb on. Brianna just shrugged and walked over to the pony. It was brown with a blonde mane and tail and looked like it was ready to bolt any second. Brianna had only ridden a pony one other time when she was sixteen and she remembered the experience being relaxing. But then again that was years ago. So, she nervously climbed onto the pony half expecting it to run off or for her to slip and fall over. She then promptly clicked her tongue and the ponies then began resuming their walk.

Gillian backed up a little so that her and Brianna rode side by side. Now the row was Traude, Barbara, Ophelia, Gerlinde and Bertha in front, Gillian, Brianna, Daniella, Beate, Bridget in the middle and Dorothea, Nadja, Ottilie, Frieda and Kamilla in the back. Brianna then looked to Gillian as a question came up in her mind.

"Did you know I would come?" she asked.

"Beg your pardon?" Gillian inquired.

"Like, are you psychic?" Brianna explained "You didn't seem that surprised when I arrived."

Gillian chuckled while shaking her head. "My dear friend, I never doubted you for a second. And to answer your question, I'm not psychic."

"Then how did you know?" Brianna demanded.

Gillian didn't reply right away as she looked around then smirked as she turned to Brianna again.

"Everyone put wagers on whether or not you'd join us. I bet you would." she elaborated softly "And now, come the next resting place, I will have ten coins in my pocket. That's how I knew."

"I see." Brianna said "Good for...y-you..."

Suddenly Brianna sneezed which caused her shake her head to clear her senses while the pony neighed, rustling up it's neck hairs and causing some to get on her face, irritating her nose even more. As she rubbed her face and nose to get it off, she accidently snorted, which made her feel embarrassed as it felt very un-ladylike of her.

"Ugh. Damn horse hair." she said as her senses cleared "I'm having a reaction."

She then reached into her left dress pocket to get her handkerchief but only to feel...nothing. There wasn't any handkerchief. She then hastily felt her right pocket only to feel nothing there either. She then reached into her knapsack only to feel anything but the handkerchief.

Oh no, no, no! she thought I can't have forgotten it!

"What on earth is the matter?" Gillian asked.

"It's my handkerchief!" Brianna exclaimed "I must have dropped it while I was running!"

"Hold on!" Bertha said suddenly.

She then grasped the hem of her gown on her right side, tore off a piece much to Gerlinde's silent dismay (their dresses did cost a considerable amount after all) and then looked to Brianna who look equally flummoxed.

"Here!" she said as she threw it to Brianna "Use this!"

Brianna caught it in her right hand and felt very awkward. It was about the size of her handkerchief but she'd never heard of one being made out of a piece of a girls dress. She then gently tucked it into her right pocket while Gillian chuckled for reasons Brianna didn't seem to understand.

"You'll have to do without your pocket handkerchief and a great deal other things on our journey." Gillian said "You were born to the borders of the Shire. But home is now behind you, Brianna. The world is ahead."

"How far is the Lonely Mountain exactly?" Brianna asked innocently.

"Let's see...we have to go through the Misty Mountains, heaven knows how many forests." Bridget replied "Rolling hills and grasslands and a lake. So yeah, hell of a long way to go."

"Glad I asked." Brianna said sarcastically.