A/N: I'm so sorry for the wait! You'll get THREE chapters this week, seeing as I only updated once last week. I'm writing the next two chapters in advance! :D
Thank you all so much for your lovely, lovely reviews. They never fail to make me smile. :) I hope you enjoy this chapter!
10: Myrtle
He hadn't been happy at all when he'd been presented with the pony. She moved too much and he had trouble staying on, clinging desperately to her mane even as she tossed her head violently.
Myrtle, he was told she was called. Beast from hell, Bilbo sometimes preferred after a long day of jostling and holding on for dear life when he was saddle sore and weary and his nose was itching from the hair.
Bilbo hadn't liked the way she was always trying to eat him, snuffling at his neck and shoulders snorting hungrily. That is, he hadn't liked it until he'd realised all she wanted was to be petted a bit. Or the apple he was munching on; either would do.
He got used to her playful whickers as he clambered into the saddle every morning and liked to indulge her when she tossed her head, stroking her neck and playing with her mane. He liked to sneak her an apple or a carrot from dinner, persuading Bombur to give him the most bruised ones from the supplies and laughing at the gentle whinny as she feasted. She would listen to his complaints about how sore and tired he was, how much he missed his hole and the green fields of the Shire. But she also understood those times when they crested a new peak, and the sight of the land spread out before them filled Bilbo with wonder.
When she went missing - carried off in the arms of a great lumbering troll, no less - Bilbo couldn't just sit there and let them eat his beautiful horse. 'We've got to do something,' he whispered fiercely to the dwarf Princes. When two pairs of eyes turned in his direction, he suppressed a sigh.
He hoped Myrtle would appreciate it afterwards.
A/N: It's always made me laugh how in the film Bilbo's perfectly happy to let the trolls eat the horses - until THEY'VE GOT MYRTLE! :D
I really hope you enjoyed this! ^.^