Bilbo and Saphira walk back to the company to discover they were suddenly leaving Rivendell. Saphira received eyes of suspicion when they saw her, but she ignored them as she went to collect her bag, sword and bow. She rushed back to them to find the dwarves waiting at the gate of Rivendell and sighed deeply. She wanted to say something, but the tension she felt told her it was best to remain silent for now. She smiled at Bilbo who jogged over to them shortly after and company moves off. Saphira hated this personally, she expected it but it wasn't pleasant.
And this is why I live on my own… She thinks silently.
"Be on your guard," Thorin said firmly, turning to look at the company. "We're about to step over the edge of the wild. Balin you know these paths, lead on." Balin nodded as he walked passed Thorin.
Bilbo and Saphira stopped to look back at Rivendell longingly. They both knew what home was like, and was very hard to leave it behind. "Master Baggins," Thorin calls. "I suggest you keep up. You too Saphira."
Saphira glanced back as Thorin and Bilbo walked on. She took a deep breath, looking back at Rivendell one last time and walked with the company. Chat was very short and about small things when relevant. Not one dwarf made conversation with Saphira, even when she tried to talk they didn't say anything.
"It will pass Saphira," Bilbo reassured her softly.
"I know," She replied, sighing deeply. "I wish they could see I am their ally."
"I know the feeling."
Saphira placed a hand on the hobbit's shoulder reassuringly. "I think they prefer you to me right now."
"Just because you have three things of dragons doesn't make you our enemy," Bilbo smiled, winking at her.
"We don't know that," Balin said suddenly, overhearing Saphira and Bilbo. "If we do not find out who the dragoness is by the time we reach the mountain, Saphira is no longer welcome."
"Who said…oh, Thorin said that didn't he?" Saphira asked with a frown.
Balin nodded. "I think he's right, no special sword is worth our lives."
"The same could be said about the gold," Saphira replied firmly.
Balin, Kili, Fili, Dwalin and Dori glare at Saphira by her sentence. Saphira rolled her eyes, ignoring their glares again.
"The gold isn't what all of us are after," Fili said. "The Lonely Mountain is our home."
"I know that," Saphira said firmly. "And if you think you can kick me out of this company, I will be coming whether you like it or not."
The dwarves grumbled and looked away from Saphira. She had her fists clenched tightly. Everything had gone backwards to what she expected, and she was growing angry. So furious in fact when they passed a boulder, Saphira punched it with her right fist hard enough to cause a bruise and several wounds.
"Oh nice, now you're trying to get our attention," Dwalin grunts.
Saphira glared at him. "No, I'm finding something else to argue with," She replied.
She bandaged her hand without any help. Small wounds never bothered Saphira anyway since she healed rather quickly.
They travel for several days, stopping at least around noon to rest. Saphira was no longer angry after the first day. She was sad now that she was practically isolated from the dwarves even if they were walking with her. Saphira was tempted to throw away the necklace because of it. Today they were walking along a path on the mountains, it was turning to dusk very quickly and dark clouds began to gather above. Saphira breathed in the cool, moist air that blew in their faces happily. A storm was on the way, and it was coming quickly. Lightning flashed and streaked out across the sky, striking parts of other mountains nearby in a spectacular display. Thunder rolled and boomed loudly as the clouds open up and the rain poured down. Even with the cloaks everyone had on they were drenched. The wind was their enemy at this stage. Saphira sensed something was strange about this storm, but thought nothing much about it.
"We must find shelter!" Thorin yells through the wind.
Saphira found herself huddling against the rocks as she walked on the path, always watching her feet and the road in front of her.
"Look out!" Dwalin bellows as a huge boulder flies through the air and slams against the mountain.
Everyone takes cover as the rock shattered and the debris showered down the mountain. Saphira gasps when she saw a huge, human-like figure stand up from where it slept, completely made of boulders.
"Bite my beard the legends are true!" Bofur exclaims, walking forward. "Giants! Stone giants!"
The giant threw a massive boulder at the other giant that had just stood up, the massive impact forcing it down against the mountain. Shoulders of rocks fell around them as the ground around them began to shake. Saphira leaned against the mountain as best as she could as their path split and turned into a giant. As the path split into legs, Saphira was very glad to be near Thorin as the giant stood slowly before being head butted by another stone giant and the leg slammed into the mountain, connecting the path Saphira and the dwarves stood on to the still mountain. They ran to the leg and jumped off the giant, stopping to turn and watch as the others were struggling to stand against the giant to keep from falling. Saphira had to admit the awe of the battle between the giants despite how terrifying they actually were. She even waited in case she would have to shift to catch someone from falling to their death. The giants threw punches at each other, some fell and one giant threw a massive boulder, beheading the giant with Bilbo and the other dwarves on its leg. It falls back and the leg falls forward. Saphira watched in horror, believing they are going to be crushed as the leg slammed into the mountain side. Thorin cries out in despair seeing the leg moving away and no one is there.
"No! Kili!" Thorin cries in despair, rushing forward.
They discover the dwarves laying on the ground groaning, but alive. Thorin sighs in relief as Gloin yells at the others that they were alright.
"Where's Bilbo?" Bofur asked in alarm, looking around. "Where's the hobbit?" Everyone looks around until Bofur spots him hanging from the ledge. "There!"
Ori jumps forward to grab Bilbo, who slips slightly and grabs another ledge. Saphira was about to reach to grab him when Bofur and Ori were in the way trying to grab Bilbo when Thorin climbs down and grabs the hobbit, hoisting him up. Saphira gasped when the dwarf loses his footing and almost falls himself and is pulled to safety. She sighed in relief they were both alright.
"I thought we lost our burglar," Dwalin sighed in relief.
"He's been lost ever since he left home," Thorin said, glaring at Bilbo. "He should never have come. He has no place amongst us." He looks up at Saphira who was shocked by Thorin's declaration about the hobbit. "But you, you should have stayed Rivendell with your loyal subjects."
Saphira blinked and glared at Thorin. "They are not my subjects!" She snapped. "I have no desire to be queen or to be worshipped!"
Thorin grunts and walks into cave nearby. He shouts to them and everyone walks in to find a small cavern, big enough for the company though. The dwarves search to the back of the cavern and find nothing at all.
"Right then, let's get a fire started," Gloin said happily, dropping wood and rubbing his hands together.
"No, no fire," Thorin said firmly. "Get some sleep and we leave at first light."
"We are to wait in the mountain until Gandalf arrives," Balin told Thorin. "That is the plan."
"Plans change," Thorin said.
Saphira sighed and unrolled her bed roll on the floor and laid on it. The dwarves settled in and Bofur took the first watch. When the dwarves were asleep Saphira heard Bilbo get up and pack. She sat up in surprise when he was finished and was walking out.
"Where do you think you're going?" Bofur asked suddenly, seeing Bilbo leaving.
"Back to Rivendell," He said with a sad face.
"No, no," Bofur gasped, standing up to reassure him. "You can't turn back now! You're a part of the company. You're one of us."
"I'm not now am I?" Bilbo asked. "Neither is Saphira after thinking she's got something to do with the dragoness. She's more worth to you then me. Thorin said I should never have come and he was right. I'm not a Took I'm a Baggins, I don't know what I was thinking. I should never have run out my door."
"You're home sick, I understand," Bofur said softly.
"No you don't!" Bilbo snapped softly. "You don't understand, no of you do, you're dwarves! You're used to this life, to living on the road, never settling in place, not belonging anywhere!"
Saphira winced at the last few words. That had got to hurt.
"I am sorry," Bilbo said, realising what he had said.
"No you're right," Bofur said sadly, looking at the other dwarves. "We don't belong anywhere."
"And neither does Saphira," Bilbo said, catching the dwarf by surprise. "She can't go home to her family because they abandoned her."
"She's settled in one place though," Bofur said, looking at Saphira. "Right?"
Saphira smirked slightly. "Yes, but it's not home," She replied gently. "It doesn't feel like home. I feel empty because I am on my own."
Bofur sighed and turned to look at Bilbo kindly. "I wish you all the luck in the world," Bofur encouraged gently. Bilbo looks at the dwarf in surprise. "I really do." He walks over and placed a hand on his shoulder.
Bilbo smiled and turned to leave. Saphira noticed there was a glow from Bilbo's sword and widened her eyes.
"What's that?" Bofur asks, noticing the sword as well.
Bilbo looked at him in surprise and then at his sword. He pulls it out slight and the blade is glowing blue. He looks up slowly, with a worried expression.
"Oh no!" Saphira whispered.
They soon hear a sound of sand running through a crack. Saphira looked down to see sand running down a crack that was appearing. Thorin was awake and sat up in alarm.
"Wake up!" He yelled, startling the dwarves. "Wake up!"
No one had any time to react when the floor gives way, turning sideways in a tipping action. Everyone falls through screaming loudly. Saphira clung onto Excalibur as the dwarves and hobbit fall through a tunnel and into some sort on containment. Saphira looked up to see a bunch of goblins running towards them, screeching and snarling.
Great...