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Chapter 24

It was getting dark and Thorin had decided to stop for tonight. We had set camp next to the path and I was sitting alone, staring at Dwalin trying to teach Mike how to use the sword. That's right, Dwalin had spoken to him and they decided to start the training.

Of course I had asked if I could be included and be given a sword (or even a dagger), but like before, they said no. Yes, I was slightly pissed off. It didn't help that Mike had sent me a smug grin when they moved a little farther away. Bastard...

"You will get wrinkles if you keep frowning like that." Fili said helpfully as he passed me. I rolled my eyes but relaxed my face. I already have a white hair, I don't need wrinkles to make me look like a wannabe granny.

I let out an unstoppable laugh when I saw Mike hit the ground pathetically. Dwalin was shouting something at him and Mike looked both annoyed and scared at the same time. What made it look even funnier was how Mike was much taller than him. All I need is some popcorn and this would be perfect!

"Hey, what are you smiling about?" Bilbo asked and sat down next to me. I pointed at the pair while trying to suppress my laughter. Bilbo looked and frowned. "I thought you were supposed to be angry for not getting to join them?"

"Well, yeah, but I think I would ask someone else than Dwalin to train me. I mean look at them! This is hilarious!"

Mike clumsily fell down again (with a shout this time) and I was nearly rolling on the ground in laughter. When I managed to calm down, I saw that Bilbo was smiling too.

"Told ya!" I grinned at him. He smiled back.

After a little more watching (and laughing), Bilbo turned to me, somewhat serious now. "Lily, I'm so glad you are here." I moved a little to look at him, surprised. "I feel like you are the only other friend I have in here. Besides Gandalf, I mean."

"Really?"

He nodded wordlessly, smiling that cute hobbit smile of his.

"Aww! Thanks, Bilbo! I think of you as a friend also!" I smiled at him kindly.

"So please, Lily. Don't leave or die."

I grinned, "Oh, don't worry, I don't plan on dying for a long time. And right now, I'm not planning on turning back to Rivendell. Although, I will leave when that old wizard finally lets me go home. Surely you understand that?"

"Oh, yes. Yes, I do." he said, sighing.

"But until then, let's be great friends! It's a promise!" I declared.

"It's a promise!" Bilbo repeated. I made him do the pinky promise. He laughed, not quite understanding.

"What are you two doing?" a voice grumbled behind us, we flinched at the sound.

"Oh, nothing! Is there something wrong, Thorin?" I asked sweetly and met his gaze. I swear his expression turned darker.

"Yes, you. Go gather some firewood and stop being idle. You are being a burden." his intense gaze fell on Bilbo, "That includes you too, Mr. Baggins."

With that, he turned his back to us and walked away. I made a face at his back. I heard Bilbo chuckle nervously.

"I guess I should obey the 'King's' orders. I'll see you later." I stood up and with a final smile, headed for Dwalin and Mike's direction.

Mike noticed me first and this distraction allowed Dwalin to make a strike at him, thus, Mike was down again, panting. I smiled smugly at him when our eyes met again. Dwalin, now aware of my presence, turned to look at me.

I recoiled and kept walking straight to search for the firewood from where no one could see me.

I wasn't gone for long (I didn't want to get lost, 'again') and my arms were full of firewood that I had found from the ground. Now even Thorin can't complain anymore!

The two were still training but I didn't pay them much attention, too focused on not dropping the wood.

I arrived next to fire the dwarves had built and dropped the wood next to it. I turned to look at the leader of our group. "Happy?"

Clearly annoyed, he nodded once, not even looking at me. Ungrateful bastard...

"Good job, Lily!" Bofur chirped, smoking his pipe like many other members of our company. (One of the reasons I don't like to sit with them on the bonfire, I can't stand the smell.) "Now we don't have to worry about the firewood ending. At least not today."

I smiled at him. At least someone's got manners!

I was already turning to leave when I noticed something weird. My backpack was half opened. I closed it completely the last time I had used it.

I turned around to look at every face that there were within a seeing rank. Finally, I warily asked, "Who went through my stuff without asking for my permission?"

The dwarves stopped talking and looked confused at first but then gazes were turning to look at the sibling pair. Fili and Kili started whistling innocently. Innocent my ass!

"You! Why would you do that?" I wasn't even actually angry. More like curious.

"Sorry, Lily! We were just curious about what the elves gave you!" Fili started.

"That's right! We didn't mean to offend you!" Kili continued and gave me a handsome smile.

I rolled my eyes, "Oh, okay. But next time you do something stupid like this, please try to be a little more careful and smarter. You left it half open! How could I not have noticed?!"

They shrugged. I coughed because of the smoke. "Fine, we'll leave it, but don't go through my stuff again." I sent them a warning look and turned away. The talking continued from where it had been left.

It was a night now. The black sky was much more beautiful than it could ever be in home. The moon was full and the stars were shining brighter than ever. I had nothing better to do than ogle at them.

Also I was trying to distract myself from the pain. That's right. My stomach was killing me right now. Why do girls have to suffer like this? Every month!

A wave of laughter and Ori's surprised 'eep!' sound mixed with a shout washed over me and I turned to look. What are they doing?

I couldn't see what made Ori make that sound but I did see the other dwarves laughing. Quite loudly at that. Though, when would they not be so noisy?

My eyes stopped on a merrily chuckling Oin. Another wave of pain washed over me and I groaned.

Wait a sec. Wasn't Oin the 'doctor' of the company? Maybe he has something like painkillers!

With that, I made my way over to him and tapped on his shoulder. He turned to look. "Lass! Come join us!"

I smiled and shook my head. "Maybe later. You're the doctor, right? I was wondering if you have something that takes the pain away. My stomach is hurting quite a bit."

He frowned and fixed his hold on his trumpet/horn/hearing aid thing. "What? I can't hear you, lass. You have to speak louder!"

I sighed and repeated, louder like he said. The dwarves seemed to get louder too.

Oin shook his head and yelled, "What? Who paid you away?!"

I facepalmed.

"No!" I moved closer to him and nearly shouted next to his ear, "I. Need. Something. That. Takes. The. Pain. Away!"

Finally he seemed to hear me as his mouth opened a little in understanding I need some kind of medicine. Unfortunately, Nori and Gloin who were sitting beside him, heard my shouting too.

"Lass? You are in pain?" Gloin asked, clearly confused. I might just imagine it but I think I heard a tiny bit of concern in his voice.

I gave him a nod. "Yeah, but it's nothing serious. My stomach is just rebelling against me." He frowned at this.

"Your stomach?" Nori asked and I turned my attention to him. He was the only one smoking right now, as far as I can see, and he smiled mischievously at me. Well, that's new!

"Yes? What about it?"

"Nothing." he moved his gaze away. That dwarf knows something!

I was about to say something when I heard Thorin's voice from across our spot. "Is something wrong?" he looked at Oin, me, Nori and Gloin. The talking seized.

"The lass seems to have a stomach ache." Gloin simply stated.

Ugh! I don't need them all to know! I just need Oin!

Before anyone could say anything, I spoke up, "It's fine! Really. No big deal. I'll just need some medicine from Oin. You can continue on talking about... whatever you were talking about."

I grabbed Oin's arm and tried to pull him up but he was too heavy for someone like me.

"Stomach ache? Maybe it's from food poisoning!" Kili decided to butt in.

Bombur (the cook) was immediately up. "What do you mean by food poisoning? We all eat the same food every day and no one, no one has ever gotten food poisoned by my cookings!"

Wow. Don't mess with Bombur's cookings! Though, there's no need for they are so good! Except that one soup...

"Actually..." Dori started and we all turned to look at him. "I've heard that females are more sensitive than males in many things. One is certain kinds of food."

"Maybe that's the cause to Lily's stomach ache?" Ori piped in.

Oh, for the love of...!

"What did we eat today? I don't even remember anymore!" Bofur questioned loudly.

"It was the meat we got from hunting earlier! What was it again?" Fili joined in.

Bifur grumbled something incoherent.

"Oh! That's right!" Gloin said and quickly emptied his big mug of... something.

I was getting frustrated. "Guys! It's okay! It's not because of Bombur's food! I just need to talk to Oi-"

"Not because of the food? Then what is it? You seem like you already know." Dwalin said somewhat suspiciously. I gulped.

Suddenly Mike snickered and now we were all looking at him. I could see that he, unlike the company, had figured out what was going on. Mike met my gaze, smirking and I narrowed my eyes at him.

Don't you dare!

Mike's grin turned evil.

He dares...

"Oh, Lily's just fine. She's just having her time of the mo-"

"Shut up, Mike! Go home! Go home, Mike! I wish you were back home so that I wouldn't have to deal with your shi-...huh?" I blink stupidly.

The spot where Mike had sat a second ago was empty.

He had vanished into thin air.

The company jumps up with surprised shouts and yelps. I stare at the spot, dumbfounded.

Mike is...

Gone.

'Gasp!' Mike disappeared!

Will we see Mike ever again? :o

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TheSarcasticAngel