~~Elena~~

Elena shook her head, giving up on her sister.

"Pardon me, Elena, but we should start mounting up. Uncle wants to get going as soon as possible," Fíli said, breaking into her thoughts.

Elena tilted her head thoughtfully. "I suppose I'm riding with you then?"

Fíli nodded. "And your sister will be riding with my brother. Uncle and Balin thought it best that you ride with us, as we are the lighter members of the group, and more experienced riders than some, and since we already met you last night."

Elena chuckled, nodding her head to where Kíli was tightening the straps on the saddle and talking to Celia at the same time, an animated look on his face. "This should be interesting," she said with a grin.

Turning to look at his brother, Fíli tilted his head to the side in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Biting her lip to stop a grin, she finally gave up and admitted, "Celia can't ride a horse to save her life. She loves archery, earned a whole bunch of awards for it back home, and can go camping on her own like the best, but she's never been able to ride a horse. At least, not on her own. She claims they hate her, and always have it out for her."

Fíli smiled. "You're right. That does sound like it would be tricky for her. However, my brother, despite his general inexperience, is an excellent rider, and will do his best to keep your sister on the pony. But, what about you? You have said nothing of your skills with horses. Shall I require a strap to keep you on as well?" he asked, eyes twinkling with mischief.

Elena snorted. Making a show of going over the saddle, she raised an eyebrow as she pulled a strap tighter. "Planning on sending us both flying, instead of just me?" she asked wryly.

Fíli grimaced. "Ehhh, I may have forgotten to double-check that strap," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.

Elena nodded. "Of course. And just so you know," she added, "I got third place in a horse camp, once. I was one of the shortest girls there, of course, as apparently the height gene carried across worlds, but I still did better than about twenty other girls."

Fíli smiled, giving a bow before taking his place on the pony. "I see now that you are a true horse master, my lady. Was your sister among those you beat in your contest?"

Elena snorted, expertly mounting the pony behind him. "I would have beat her, of course, but she flat out refused to come. Something about having the sense to be scared of creatures that could trample her to the ground without breaking a sweat. And that would most likely enjoy doing so."

Fíli tilted his head to the side. "Your sister, she is... afraid of horses, then?"

Elena nodded. " Kíli's going to have a hard time getting her on the pony," she said with a laugh.

Fíli shook his head. "I'm not too sure about that, Elena," he said, gesturing over to where Celia was seated - albeit with an extremely discomforted expression on her face - on her pony, glaring at Kíli, who, judging by his expression, was trying desperately to hold in a laugh.

Elena narrowed her eyes. "Can you bring us over there?" she asked. "I have to know how he accomplished that." Fíli raised an eyebrow but acquiesced.

Once they got close enough, Elena called out, "So, Kíli, how exactly did you get my sister on that pony? I've been trying for years to get her to start riding, and she's refused me every time."

Switching her glare to her sister, Celia bit out, "Kíli had nothing to do with it. I got on the pony because I had to. Back home, I never had the need to ride, so I never did."

Looking at Kíli for confirmation, he nodded with a grin. "It's true. The only part I was involved in was helping her get mounted. The rest of it - including the comments that I wasn't being helpful - were all hers."

Elena shook her head. "I'm torn between laughing, and being mad that it took being thrown into another world for my sister to finally willingly ride a horse, and not just because our mom thought it would be a good skill to have. And even then, it's not a horse, but a pony! She's still never ridden a horse of her own free will!"

Celia sulked. "It's not my fault we lost nearly a foot in height coming here. And you should be glad I'm not trying to avoid my fear."

Elena twitched. "You wouldn't."

Tilting her head back defiantly, her sister said, "Try me."

Looking back and forth between the two sisters, Kíli said, "I'm sensing a story here."

"Me too," Fíli agreed. "And I, for one, would be most interested to hear it, particularly as it seems we are about to set out," he said, nodding towards where Thorin and Gandalf were astride their mounts and arguing quietly over some technicality, but heading towards the path that led out of the Shire.

And they were right, for not a minute later, Thorin called out over his shoulder, "Let's move out!"

Quickly mounting their ponies, the rest of the company formed a line behind Thorin and set out, leaving Fíli, Kíli, and the girls towards the end of the line along with Bilbo, who had been coerced onto his pony about ten minutes ago, with about as much joy towards his mount as Celia had expressed.

Grinning at his expression, Elena turned to him as they rode and said, "Don't worry, Uncle Bilbo. I'm sure that by the time this journey is over, all of us, even you, will be excellent pony riders." Glaring at her, Bilbo opened his mouth to speak, but then paused and stared up ahead at Thorin, who had just turned down a side path.

"Hold on, what's he doing, then? That's not a good path to take, not at all."

Craning her head around Kíli to look, Celia gasped in shock. "He's taking us to the Old Forest!"

"Is that a bad thing?" Kíli asked uncertainly.

Nodding vigorously, Celia swallowed. "Yes. Bad enough trying to travel through the Old Forest by day, it gets worse at night. And then, and then... Assuming you make it out, you have to face the Barrow-Downs."

Seeing both Elena and Bilbo unsuccessfully try to fight off a shiver, Fíli declared, "I'm going to tell Uncle. If this path is a danger, he needs to know." Putting his hand to his mouth, he called out a string of words in what Elena could only assume was the dwarfish language, causing the entire party to halt and look back at them.

Riding back to them, Thorin said with a scowl on his face, "What do you mean that this path is dangerous?" Looking at Bilbo, the two girls let him answer.

Shooting them a look that promised retribution, he said hesitantly, "Well, it's just that this is the path that leads to the Old Forest - a place that no one in their right mind goes unless they absolutely have to, with a large group, and no further than they have to. There are... stories... of that place."

Raising an eyebrow, Thorin sneered, "So you would have us flee from a legend, then?"

Glaring at him, Celia snapped, "No, he's trying to save our lives. I know of at least four hobbits who were nearly killed in there.* Not by creatures in there, but by the trees themselves. They were only saved by the presence of a very powerful older being, who was watching over that place. The trees in the Old Forest are alive, or at least a great deal of them are. Rumored to be descended from the forest of Fangorn, the Brandybuck clan is charged to keep them in the forest, and from overtaking the Shire, which they have attempted in the past."

The dwarves, who had been eagerly listening to the talk, stirred visibly at the mention of Fangorn.

"I've heard talk of Fangorn," Nori muttered to Dori. "And none of it good."

Gandalf, who had been an interested watcher up until this point, interjected, "What Bilbo and Lady Celia say is true, Thorin. While the hedge at the border of Buckland helps to keep the trees in the Old Forest, the trees often grow right up to the edge of the border, and are only kept at bay by the memory of a fire, set by hobbits some generations ago, in a last-ditch attempt to keep them in the forest."

Narrowing his eyes, Thorin asked, "But you are a wizard, Gandalf. Are you not able to fend off these... trees?"

Looking both amused and serious, Gandalf shook his head. "Perhaps I could get us through the forest, but once we left the forest, we would have to face the Barrow-Downs. And even were I able to fend off the Barrow-Wights, a questionable endeavor at best, it would still add costly time to our journey."

Glowering, Thorin demanded, "Well, where would you have us go, then? The path on the map leads towards this 'Old Forest' of yours."

Deciding it was time to speak up, Elena interjected, "Bilbo could lead us to the quickest path out of the Shire."

Speaking before Bilbo or Thorin could, most likely to shoot down Elena's idea, Gandalf said, "That sounds like a wonderful idea! Having grown up here, I'm sure Bilbo will know all the right paths to take, and what places to avoid."

Thorin glowered for a moment before giving in. "Very well. I suppose you might as well come up front, then, Mister Baggins. Are there any other... places to avoid?"

Thinking for a moment, Bilbo shook his head. "Not that I can think of off the top of my head. If we're avoiding the Old Forest, then the next main thing that we should have to worry about would be the Bounders. But with Celia, Elena, and I, you should be left well enough alone, so long as you don't bother anyone."

"Well, left alone except for Lobelia Sacksville-Baggins who seems to have a bone to pick with you again, Uncle Bilbo," Elena said, nodding towards where an angry hobbit woman could be seen marching towards them.

Thorin gave an angry sigh, and muttered something to Dwalin about, "Never leaving the Shire, it seems."

Gandalf just seemed amused, and Bilbo... Bilbo just gave a resigned sigh, before putting on his "company face," as Celia liked to call it, and saying, "Well, hello, Cousin Lobelia. What can I do for you today?"

The hobbit glared at him before sputtering shrilly, "What can you -?! Well, for starters, you could explain exactly what you were thinking, leaving Bag End to Drogo Baggins. The boy's not even fully of age, yet! Not to mention that Otho was supposed to be your heir, not some brainless cousin! And after all we've done for you, too! My family even tried to take you in when your poor mother passed away," she said, putting on an injured air.

Celia raised an eyebrow and 'muttered' loud enough for Lobelia to hear, "Hmm. I wonder what possible reasons he could have for taking away a wedding present for his mother from a pinch-faced old hag who's done nothing but badger him, insult him and his family repeatedly, try to steal his inheritance, and then, on top of all that, do absolutely nothing but be an absolute menace to all of Hobbiton in general, but to a dear old hobbit who's done absolutely nothing but be courteous to her in particular."

Raising her eyes to look the older woman square in the face, she glared at her. "Oh!" She said in fake surprise. "It seems as though he does have plenty of reasons to disinherit you. Drogo is a lovely boy, and certainly much better behaved then you. Everyone knows that the main reason you married Otho is for the money, and your only interest in Bag End is for the wealth and stature it would give you. You haven't cared a wit about Bilbo, only for what he could get for you. And it's no use trying to get Bag End, either. Uncle Bilbo made sure that his will was airtight, and left it with the Thain for good measure."

When the older woman did nothing more than stand there, gaping, she rolled her eyes and turned away. "I think we can go now," she called ahead. "I believe that the problem has been dealt with."

Eyes twinkling, Gandalf turned to Bilbo. "I believe she means you, my dear Bilbo. For you to guide us, it would require your presence near the front."

Bilbo, who had been watching the previous exchange with wide eyes, shook his head. "What - oh, right. Sorry." Flushing, he led his pony near to the front of the group. "We'll need to go that way," he said, tilting his head towards the right. "It's the quickest path out of here."

Thorin raised an eyebrow at him, even as he turned his pony in the direction Bilbo indicated. "I would, indeed, appreciate speed, as our morning has already been delayed enough."

Sitting behind Kíli, Celia switched her glare from Lobelia, now fading into the distance, still staring after them, to the exiled king's back. "Delayed enough, indeed," she muttered angrily. "As if it were his fault what happened."

Lips twitching in what might have been a smile, Fíli offered, "I'm afraid that Uncle's always been a bit impatient like that. He doesn't necessarily mean it to be taken personally."

Raising her own eyebrow in turn, Elena said, "I don't know about that, Fíli. He's been much more patient with me and Celia than he has been with Bilbo, and I know that Bilbo would have been nothing but courteous with him, even when Celia and I have had a bit of trouble controlling our tempers, as was just seen," she said with a laugh, tilting her head behind them.

Twisting around a bit to look at her, Fíli laughed. "I'm afraid that I would have to agree with you there. Celia did seem a bit... unhappy... with the woman."

Celia snorted. "That's putting it lightly. And if you knew everything she'd done, or tried to do. I doubt that you'd like her very much either."

Kíli shrugged. "Well, we've got a long trip ahead of us. Might as well do something to pass the time." A thought seemed to hit him, and he winced. "That is, if you don't think it would be impolite to do so."

Shaking her head, Elena said, "No, what Lobelia's done is pretty well know throughout Hobbiton. And while Celia wasn't exactly polite when dealing with her, I can't exactly say I wouldn't have felt tempted to do the exact same thing."

"What exactly did she do, then, if you don't mind my asking?" Kíli said hesitantly.

"More like, what didn't she do?" Elena muttered. Raising her voice to normal, she said, "Well, for starters, Bilbo was just shy of coming of age when his father died, and his mother was seriously wounded, leaving a large inheritance for him, including Bag End, which is considered one of the best smials in the Shire. Almost immediately, Lobelia's family was after him like hawk; claiming that he was too young to be in charge of a home, and that it should be passed on to someone older and wiser. Like them."

"Wait. You mean that they tried to take the home of a grieving child? Who'd just lost his parents?" Kíli demanded.

Celia grimaced. "Not quite. He was twenty-nine, then, and had about four years to go. Unfortunately, his mother would need constant care for the rest of her life, and they claimed that he wasn't ready for that, and that as the closest friends of his family who weren't banned from inheriting anything, they should be the ones to take him in, and take over Bag End. It was a near thing, too. It was only his relationship with some of the higher authorities, and that his mother could still speak rationally, that kept him there."

Elena jumped in, both Fíli and Kíli listening intently. "Then, once his mother did pass on, a few years later, and Bilbo inherited Bag End completely, Lobelia began trying to... get his hand. As in, she literally tried to marry her way into his fortune."

She couldn't help but laugh at the looks of disgust on their faces. "Yeah, that's pretty much what I thought, too. And when that was clearly going nowhere, she ended up marrying Otho Sacksville-Baggins, who was Bilbo's heir by being his next-of-kin, as long as he didn't have any children. She's been pestering Bilbo ever since, and keeps visiting just to irritate him, and make off with his silver spoons."

"She sounds like a rather unkind woman," Fíli commented mildly.

Elena snorted. "You have no idea. When we showed up, almost all of Hobbiton welcomed us, after being a bit shy at first. All except her. Almost two years of living here, and Celia being apprenticed to the local healer, and they still hate us. Not sure why, as we were never supposed to inherit Bag End anyways, but they did. And if she or Otho had a medical problem, they always refused to be treated by 'that dwarf'. They would only let the healer herself treat them."

Bofur, who had been riding nearby, chimed in, "It sounds like Hobbiton has it's own fair share of hatred for dwarves, then. It'd been beginning to sound a bit too much like a paradise to be true."

Raising her eyebrow at him, Elena said, "Master Bofur, if you're going to assume that all hobbits are like Lobelia and Otho, then I'm going to assume that all dwarves, barring me and Celia, of course, are as rude, impatient, and prejudiced as your leader up there. Because clearly if you've met one, then every single other person of that race will be exactly the same."

Throwing his hands up in the air in a sign of surrender, Bofur said, "Now, now, lass. I didn't mean for you to be taking any offense at my words. I was just stating the fact that it don't appear to have escaped the Shire, none, either."

Elena sighed. "None taken, Master Bofur. I'm sorry. I'm just used to too many people being dismissive of others they haven't even taken the time to know yet, and all because of their race."

"Is it like that in your world?" Kíli asked curiously.

Celia tilted her head to the side thoughtfully. "Sort of. You wouldn't think that it'd be as much of a problem, considering that there's only humans in our world, but some people just leap at any opportunity to hate others, and some... some people are just blind to what's plainly obvious."

"But, if you're all humans, then what's there to hate, aside from the wealth of people better off than you?" Bofur asked uncertainly.

Elena sighed. "Anything different. Anything deemed lesser than your standards of perfection. For so many years, people were treated as slaves, and tortured and killed, just because they came from a different country, or had a slightly different sounds color."

"That sounds a lot like how a lot of people view the dwarves, actually," Fíli said, frowning. "They know nothing about us except the fact that we're dwarves, and for many of them, that's all they need to know."

"Like your relationship with the Elves?" Celia asked curiously. "Cause from what I know, it seems like a mutually hateful relationship."

Fíli shook his head. "That's a bit different. The elves make no secret of their dislike of us, so we do not hide it from them. In addition, they have made multiple injuries to us that are not so easily forgotten."

Celia looked at him sadly. "But hate and revenge never fix anything," she whispered. "They only bring about more hate. And if everyone went around hating anyone who even looked remotely similar to someone who had once done them a wrong, the world would be a much darker place than it already is."

"The elves have legitimately done us harm, and refused us desperately needed aid," Kíli pointed out, keeping his expression calm.

Celia shook her head. "And I'm not saying that what they did was right, just that we can't go around hating everyone for the actions of one person. It'd be a sad way to live your life, refusing to see the good in all people on the off chance that they might be like this other person who did you harm. I mean, Elena and I were nearly killed by the actions of a drunk person when we were young, but that doesn't mean that every time we see someone start to take a drink of wine, we go up and punch them in the face before dumping the wine on the ground."

"You were nearly killed when you were younger?" Fíli asked, eyes wide. "Even in your world?"

Elena nodded, chuckling. "What do you think, Cel? Should we tell them the dramatic tale of our childhood?"

Celia shrugged, taking in their surroundings. They were on the outskirts of Hobbiton by now, and coming close to the fields of produce raised by the farmers each year. "Why not?" She said at last. "We've still got a ways to go before we get out of the Shire, and it won't even be lunch for a while yet. So the question is," she addressed the boys, "Do you want the dramatic version of our adventurous childhood, or the plain, boring, unembelished tale?"

Fíli thought for a moment before chuckling and saying, "Well, like you said, we've still got a ways to go before we stop for the night. Might as well go for the 'dramatic and interesting' tale."

Elena grinned. "Alright. But you can't say that we didn't warn you, then."

Fíli bowed his head gravely. "Consider my brother and I duly warned."

"It was a dark and stormy night, many years ago," Elena began, pitching her voice lower than normal. "It seemed like any other stormy night, except for one thing. Tonight, the young adults, were going to visit the old haunted house near the edge of town. Rumors said that an old family had been killed there once when the roof caved in on accident, and that on dark nights, when the moon was full, you could still hear the cries of the children. So, of course they had to go see for themselves if they rumors were true."

"The only thing they hadn't counted on," Celia chimed in, her voice as low as her sister's, "was on hearing the sounds of the children crying nearby, as though it were in the very backyard. Thoroughly unnerved, but determined not to show fear, the kids crept through the fence into the backyard, only to find two small children lying unconscious on the ground, dressed in unrecognizable clothes, and definitely not from their town. Panicked, they called the authorities about the strange visitors, before taking off."

"And when the authorities arrived," Elena broke back in, "They made every effort to find the lost little girls' family, as they were undoubtedly related. They waited another two or three days for the children to wake up, only to find that the only information they could get from them, was a garbled version of their names - Cel'cel and El'na. After two months with no response, it was decided to name the two supposed orphans 'Celia' and 'Elena', and dump them in the town orphanage until they were adopted."

"Wait. I thought you said you were unconscious? But then how did the other children hear you crying?" Kíli interrupted.

Elena winked at him. "Who said it was us?" Without waiting for an answer, she went on. "And there the poor orphans stayed for the next two years, hoping for someone to come along who would love them and take them home. Then, when it was assumed that they were about six years of age in human terms, tragedy struck. The man left in charge of the orphanage turned to drink to make him feel better about his personal and financial problems. And one night, completely drunk, he deliberately set the orphanage on fire in an attempt to be given more money for raising the orphans there. Thankfully everyone got out in time, and no one was hurt, but the orphanage was destroyed."

At this point, Bofur, who had been listening in, exclaimed, "Do you mean to tell me that someone almost killed a whole building full of innocent children for money?!"

Celia nodded solemnly, taking the role of story teller back. "But don't worry. Like I said, no one got hurt, and it worked out for the best in the end. Moved by the orphans' plight, people began taking in the orphans. Among the future parents, was an escaped warrior princess, who had fled from her realm after her father had attempted to force her into a loveless marriage. As she fled, she took a large part of her inheritance with her, ensuring that she would never have to starve for want of food. Upon seeing the orphans, she was instantly drawn to a lovely little lass with black hair, and her boring older sister who had some skills with a paintbrush."

"Now hold on a minute!" Elena protested. " As I recall, she took us in because she wanted to see my art talent grow, and she felt pity for you on seeing the tangled rats nest you called your hair."

Celia eyed her sister. "I'm pretty sure that that's not what happened, but considering that you're the older sister, it's also quite obvious that your memory is starting to go due to your old age. Rationality will clearly be the next to go. But you've spent most of your life being delusional anyways, so, it shouldn't be too hard for me to adjust." Fíli and Kíli suddenly broke out into simultaneous coughing fits that were definitely not attempts to hide laughter.

"Is that what's happening to Fíli?" Kíli wondered, ignoring how his brother suddenly whipped his head over to glare at him along with Elena. "I mean, I've often wondered, but I thought it was just me. But now, I'm guessing that it's real, and happening to your sister as well?"

Celia nodded, wiping away a fake tear. "I'm afraid so. It must be the stress of constantly trying to boss others around, all the time."

Elena raised her eyebrow, still glaring at her sister. "May I remind you, sister dearest, that you spent a large amount of the years in our old world being "the boss", as you like to put it? Does that ring a bell? Hmm?"

Celia shook her head, putting a hand to her heart. "But even then, you were still the eldest, still doomed to lose your battle with rationality first."

Kíli made an expression of agreement. "She's got a point, there, you have to admit."

Elena switched her glare to him. "Well of course you'd agree with her!" She cried. "You're both the youngest siblings!"

"Now, now, Elena," Fíli broke in. "It's best if we just allow them to believe their delusions in peace. We know better, so we'll just let them enjoy their ignorance for a little longer. Why don't you finish your tale?" he suggested.

Elena shrugged, finally allowing her glare to drop. "There's not much more to tell. The warrior princess took us in, and raised us like her own daughters, even training us in the arts of war so that we could defend ourselves if need be. Celia in the art of archery, and myself in the wielding of axes."

"Axes? You mentioned something like that earlier back in the halfling's home. I happen to know a bit about them myself. Would you be interested in letting me see your skills? Perhaps training you a bit, if need be?" Dwalin's voice startled all four of them, as none of them had noticed him riding up, causing Celia to let out a startled, "Oh!" and accidentally clutch Kíli's waist a bit harder in surprise, before she flushed and eased her grip.

Elena considered him for a moment before answering. "I'd be honored, Master Dwalin. I know that I am no master of axes yet, and to be taught by a warrior such as yourself is an honor. However, I would ask that you refer to Bilbo by either his proper name or, if you can't do that, at least call him a Hobbit instead of insulting him like that. I know you do so unknowingly, but it is still an insult to their race, and as such, I ask that you refrain from doing so."

Dwalin eyed her for a moment before saying in his rough brogue, "I'll try to keep that in mind lass. I'll see you after supper tonight." And without waiting for her answer, he spurred his pony to the front of the group, and back to his place besides Thorin.

Elena started after him for a moment before turning to her equally startled sister. "Did I seriously just get offered a chance to train with him?"

Fíli chuckled. "I'd say so. And you should count yourself honored. He doesn't offer to train just anyone. Should the weather hold til tonight, you'll probably be driven farther than any other instructor would have driven you, but you'll also learn a lot more."

Elena grinned happily. "Well, I hope the weather holds, then. I'm looking forward to it!"

But the weather didn't hold. It started to pour shortly after lunchtime, and continued for the rest of the night. In fact, it continued to storm for the next few weeks, as they rode out of the Shire, and further into the east than Bilbo or the girls had ever gone. But that was not so bad. They could handle that. What did present a problem was when one of the ponies took fright at a clap of thunder and took off into the river.

Fíli plunged in after it without hesitation, only to be hit in the head by a glancing blow from one of the pony's hooves, and sink beneath the waves.

Kíli let out an anguished cry and plunged into the raging waters after him, leaving the rest of the Company standing dumbstruck above, staring at the waters where two of their dearest members had disappeared.

A/N: In which I totally decimate the timeline of events...

So, the first time I published this on Wattpad, I ended up getting extremely busy and leaving this chapter up for five weeks with no updates...I still feel kind of bad about that. But, no worries! I have the next chapter ready, so the cliffhanger should only last until next Tuesday. :)

Thank you to everyone who favorited and followed, and shout-out to thewolf74, E, and mama yaga for reviewing! To answer a few questions...

Q:Is anybody going to die?
A: Well, this chapter would seem to indicate something of that sort, I suppose. It wouldn't affect the story too much to kill off two of the main characters ten chapters in, would it?

Q: Will anybody fall in love with Thorin?
A: Welllllll, now that Fíli and Kíli are out of the way...I'm thinking of maybe having Tauriel fall in love with him if I end up writing her in. It'd be a great plot twist. I'm thinking maybe Dori and Balin for the girls, lol. ;)

Q: What was in the letter to Thorin?
A: Basically the usual..."Bring Bilbo back alive, or I'll make you regret it... He's my favorite grandson, etc." The usual protective family sort of letter. I probably won't be bringing it up very often, so that's the gist of it.

Thank you all so much for reading, and I hope you enjoyed! :)

General Disclaimer: I'm actually from the future, so... I couldn't possibly be JRR Tolkien, who owns the Hobbit and LOTR. Beam me up, Scotty! My work here is done.

*Also, when Celia says this, she is referring to Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin on their adventure through the Old Forest when they're leaving the Shire. They're almost killed by Old Man Willow, before being saved by an ancient being known as Tom Bombadil