I am back and feeling a bit inspired. I hope you all are staying safe and healthy. Enjoy!
As Bilba stooped next to the slow flowing stream, she caught a glimpse of her disheveledappearance. The black orc blood spatter had dried across her chest and face. Looking down ather clothes, the hobbit noticed more orc blood splashed on her clothes mixed with reddish
brown blood. Thorin's blood, she realized. It also covered her hands and forearms from whereshe clutched her wounded king. The adrenaline high she had been riding suddenly dropped andshe felt sick to her stomach and slightly dizzy. Bilba tried to choke back her gags unsuccessfully.
The lass heaved twice and vomited into the water. Once she was done, she waited for thewaste to wash away before scooping up fresh water to rinse out her sour mouth. Placing herhands back in the stream she started to scrub her skin raw. Desperate to remove the proof ofher king's mortality and how close she and the company had been to losing him.Despite him not always being kind or even civil to her for most of their journey so far, she hadcome to feel something for him. Respect, friendship, maybe a little affection now. Kili and Fili'swords did indeed make her uncomfortable in the truth they held. Bilba was completely
inexperienced in the ways of romantic relationships. Back in the Shire, the female hobbit was abit of a pariah; well past marrying age and too odd for the respectable folks. Her peculiarities
made her undesirable to eligible hobbit lads thus Bilba never was pursued or courted over theyears. By her fortieth birthday she had accepted the fact that no hobbit would catch her eye norwould one accept her and she would live her life in quiet spinsterhood. It was alright. She had
her garden, her books, and her home. Her heart clenched momentarily at her truly empty life.
The memory of her loving parents floated across her mind. True love; that's what her parentsshared. They even bore the other's Soul Mark. So few hobbits had them now. Most hobbits'marks never appeared. Soul Marks only appear when a being meets the one that is a perfectmatch for them. These instances have become such a rarity that only a handful of hobbit
couples have had them over the last few generations. Bilba's parents were one of the few luckypairs. Often in her youth, before her parents passed on, she traced her mother and father'smarks countless times. Her small fingers playing across the dark lines and curves gracing their
skin. Every night Bilba would stand in front of her floor length mirror and scour her flesh for amark. Any mark. Right up until the night before the Company appeared at her home under the
hill.
Tears spilled down her cheeks. The loss of her beloved parents still so keenly felt coupled withthe lack of a true companion to share her life with caused her heart to throb and stutter painfullyunder her ribcage. A twig snapped behind her crouched form. The hobbit spun around whilescrubbing the grief from her eyes and cheeks. The tall figure could only be the wizard.
"My dear, are you alright?" His grandfatherly voice soothed her frayed nerves. Bilba stood toface Gandalf, wiping her damp hands on her pants.
Trying her best to smile, the lass responded, "Of course… Or as well as can be expected aftermy first encounter with goblins and orcs." Her voice cracked a bit at the end. Wetnessshimmered in her eyes again. Threatening to overwhelm her completely. "Why did you choose
me, Gandalf? I'm not brave or strong or anything else this company needs." Her gaze piercedthe wizard's. The hobbit's insecurities shine through causing the Grey Pilgrim's heart to ache.
"Oh, Bilba! This company does not need another warrior. They need a reminder of what theyfight for. Goodness, innocence, family, love. You are here to inspire them. Your worth is in yourwords and deeds, not your steel." His large weathered hands gripped her slight shoulders. "It's
already begun. You placed yourself between Thorin and his greatest foe with no training. Thecompany witnessed your strength and heart." Squatting down he met her eyes. "Why you?Because no one else could."
The hobbit closed her eyes and took a steadying breath. "I won't let you down, Gandalf, myfriend. I won't let the company down either."
The old man's smile grew wrinkling the skin around his eyes. "That's a good dear. Now, let's getback to the others. We cannot linger here."
Together, they walked back to the group as Balin and Thorin were discussing their next move. Itwas decided that they would travel for a few more hours in hopes of staying ahead of Azog andhis foul company. Tired and weary, the dwarves plus a hobbit and wizard gathered the few
salvaged supplies and set out through the forest.