A/n: UPADTED. 22/05/20 Hello all! I'm back! With a recently refurbished chapter 2. Again. This one, I hope makes more sense and flows better than the old version, it gives way to a better storyline later on. All in due time of course. But, alas, from me, myself and I, we say enjoy! And please be lovely treasures and leave a review, I appreciate it. And also, to those who have left feedback already, thank you so much for the patience and encouragement!

A sense of calm comes over me, from the slight wind blowing against me, tickling my skin and teasing my already wild hair. The last rays of the sun are just starting to disappear over the larger rolling, green hills. The birds have since settled down in the singing to one another and I am left to my own thoughts, I take the brief moment of silence to meditate and settle my thoughts from my recent travels. That is before a lingering scent is carried along with the wind and tickles my sensitive now, bringing me out of my state. A scent that sparks and awakens something in the pit of my stomach. Hunger. Which grumbles to further emphasize it's disgruntlement of having gone a lot longer than usual for a meal. Whether that be a decent hefty meal I always have when home, or the rations I have during my travels. Either way, its not happy.

Granted, a couple of days ago, I may have over indulged a little during my journey back home, thus leaving me a bit short handed throughout the remaining days but home isn't too far now. I think happily as I imagine the splendid array of food awaiting for me at home. I voice my thoughts on the current scent in the air to my travelling companion.

"I do hope you can smell what I can smell Cas?!." I brighten a little as my nose picks up several scents now, carried by the wind, and with my stomach fully awakened, it kicks into the swing of things. Grumbling loudly again, to which Cas whinnies, huffing exasperatedly at me. Well more of my vocal stomach before his own head lifts, perking up a little as he gathers his bearings. The feeling of hunger catches in my throat, distracting me from the road ahead and I lose my thoughts a little as I imagine the food that produces said smell. My stomach takes over to manage my nose and I pick up the delicious smell of baked bread, eggs, bacon and sausage. Not that Cas would like or appreciate the smell of cooked meat but still. Gulping in a breath, I can quite literally taste each piece of food precisely as if I am actually eating them, my mouth waters and a growl escapes from the food monster known as my stomach. Again.

And for future records, I can not help when the food monster strikes, it has a mind of its own. So bare that in mind.

Another whinny brings me back to the present and I look down towards my companion and chuckle lightly, the look he's giving me says everything he thinks about the food monster, he huffs and turns his attention back to the road.

Kicking my heels gently into side his side, I encourage Cas to trot a little faster, however, him being on the same line of thought as myself, needed no form of encouragement because as soon as the hills begin to open up with more and more Hobbit Holes, does he suddenly find a burst of life and begin galloping to our destination with a new found determination, myself hanging onto the reigns for dear life at the same time!

I can only imagine what a sight we must look. Now that the hills are being painted golden with the last rays of the sun, the tranquillity of my home is wrecked as we come barging through. A wry grin spreads across my face, there are a few faces that know me, and know to expect nothing less from me.

Several minutes later and we are racing into the heart of Hobbiton, where we are greeted with the many faces and curly haired tops of Hobbits and it suddenly accrues to me to fear for the well-being of the gentle folk, as Cas barges past them. With a single destination in mind. nothing is going to stop him now, especially now that he knows where he is. Even with myself pulling on the reigns to slow him down. But I know Cas well, he loves the gentle people just as much as I do, and makes way for them, dodging and hopping over and around any obstacle that ventures into his path with skilled ease. With his given pace, Hobbiton is soon behind us and Bywater is hastily making its approach towards us. I clock onto the general direction that Cas has his sights set on and I figure if you can't beat them, join them. I give him free reign and a spree of giggles escape my mouth as we approach a familiar tavern.

"Oi! Watch where yer' going!" A poor soul shouts in surprise as a mass of black speeds past him; he pulls back his wheelbarrow full of potatoes just in the nick of time.

"My apologies Master Hobbit!" I yell back to him, I'd daren't look back just in case Cas decides to get cocky and kick me off. I've been on the receiving end of one of those many times now and would very much like to avoid them the best that I can. Even when he's just playing.

"Oh, it's you Rose! Welcome back!" He shouts back in return, but I can't quite tell who it is so I just simply shout back to him:

"Thank you!" Another laugh escapes me as several others realise that it is, indeed, my merry self and Cas, galloping through the village, do they stop and wave, each saying their own greeting as we pass them. And I try my best to reply back to them all, apologising on behalf of Cas at the same time, even though I know that he'd never mean it.

When the windows and doors of The Green Dragon become remarkably clear to me, as in with my incredible eyesight I can see every crack of the wood work, do I really pull back on the reigns and beg Cas into a complete stop. "Whoa boy!" I breathe in relief as he does literally stop on the spot in front of the door just as a familiar hobbit opens it in the hopes of exiting the establishment.

I have the maturity, somewhat, and the manners to not laugh in front of the poor fellow as he pales considerably and steps back in fright, straight into the closed door of course. I too would be shocked if I were greeted with the snout of a pony, taller and rounder than usual, just about nose to nose with my own, as I leave the pub. Dismounting, falling the somewhat small distance to the floor, I land gracefully onto the balls of my feet and more forward to apologize.

"I'm terribly sorry my dear hobbit, my friend here is in need of some good food and a nice bed from his weary travels, he may have gotten a little excited when he realised how close we were to the Green Dragon, and it's been an exhausting journey from our travels from the coastal waters of Forlindon." I grab the hobbit's shoulder sympathetically.

"Now Cas! Use those manners I know that you have and apologize to the poor fellow." I stare at Cas pointedly, motioning with my other hand for him for back up just a smidge to allow the poor hobbit some breathing space.

Cas, being the proud fellow that he is, gives me his own pointed look.

"Come now Cas, you wouldn't like it if something bigger than you suddenly appears in front of you out of nowhere, now would you." He snorts begrudgingly in return. "I didn't think so, now stop being a stubborn mule and apologise to Master Percy, for heaven's sake!" The hobbit in question, Percy, startles at the mention of his name. But is quickly distracted as Cas bows his head once and gives a gentle 'neigh' in the hobbits direction and waits patiently for the hobbit's response.

I grin before looking back to the Percy and note that he's regained some colour back into his round cheeks, although the hand that had risen to grip his waistcoat, precisely over his wildly beating heart, had yet to move, he keeps it there, unsure what to do with it really. His eyebrows raise up and down a few times as he blinks in our direction.

Cas bounces on his hooves a little in hopes to encourage the hobbit to recover his voice. Still weary, somewhat of Cas' appearance, more than fright he opens his mouth and closes it a couple of times as he studies the pony before frowning.

"N-no harm done, no one got hurt, which is the main thing. Thank you, my good fellow, apologies accepted." He nods before further frowning. "I vaguely recognise the name Cas from somewhere, but I can't quite place where from, just as though I feel like I recognise your face from somewhere too." He clicks his heels before cautiously taking a step back, hoping not to have offended me.

"Oh, I do apologise Percy, sometimes I forget. I'm home and away for long periods of time so often these days that you don't always recognise me, however I never forget a face and I remember you from one of Bilbo's parties. It's me Aurora."

"Aurora? Oh, yes! Bilbo's sister! How could I forget? I am terribly sorry, excuse my forgetfulness."

"It happens to the best of us." I laugh.

"You're home early, aren't you? Last I heard from Bilbo, you aren't due home for another several weeks. Nothing's happened has there?" He questions, of course, all of the hobbits know of my work and why I'm always travelling and away for long periods of time.

"No, of course not, it's just." I pause for a moment as I gather my thoughts as to not give away too much information. "It's hard to explain Percy, I just felt like I had to come home, a force far greater than my own told me that I am needed here, is all." Percy, although considered to be younger than myself, happened to be wiser then his years. He had a penchant for knowledge, plenty of wisdom and always has his head in a book, wanting to know as much of Middle Earths secrets, as told through the words of another scholar.

"You and that sixth sense of yours. You've been blessed for sure." He chuckles. "Though I hope your travels haven't be too horrendous for you? I applaud you for your work and what you strive to achieve. Not many of us say this as often as we should. Because you're making Middle Earth a safer place for all of us, not that I know first hand but I do read about them and hear the stories from Bilbo and the odd traveller that passes through here too. Though that doesn't mean some of us don't worry for you."

"I appreciate the concern. I don't do what I do to receive awards or anything, I do it because it gives me purpose and a sense of pride. But I can assure, I can handle my own and then some. And I never put myself at risk on purpose." Not anymore at least. I've learned my lesson, the hard way if course and its certainly never made me look back.

"The Valar picked you for a reason, whether it be your sixth sense, your kindness, your loyalty, your sense of honour or your fierceness protectiveness you have of this world, they've chosen the right person." I pause for a minute, somewhat taken back by his words. I smile at him, as if seeing him for the first time.

"I love what I do, but it keeps me on the move, never in one place and away from home. Sometimes I wonder if being a Guardian is worth it all. Facing down and fighting those that are out to bring chaos, strife and evil to this world but then it's time to come home. And I see all the creatures of Middle Earth who appreciate me and what I do, and of course I see all of this!" I gesture to and around the Green Dragon. "I see the wonderfulness that is home, the gentlefolk that care for each other, who give and never ask for it back. The peacefulness and prosperity. The goodness of this world. And I'm suddenly reminded of what it is that I'm fighting for. It's all worth it, even if I miss out on the important things." The door opens and we all step back to let the leaving patrons through.

"Oh, hello there Rose! Back so soon? Not enough orcs and goblins for you out there?" A younger, bright faced hobbit asks me, eager to know about my travels as the rest of his family follow behind him.

"Hello Willis, oh there's still plenty of those nasty buggers out there, unfortunately, but a little birdy told me I had to come home early." I smile down at him, his mother and father both grinning at me as they give me silent hello's and welcome backs.

"How exciting, to be a warrior and a guardian, out there in the world, saving people, hunting evil and protecting the innocent! You must have some brilliant adventure stories to tell us from your travels!" He is all but jumping with excitement and I indulge him a little. Bending down to his height, I say to him:

"Well, there are a few to tell, buuuuuut then all of the others will be upset that I told you and not them, they'll think you're my favourite."

"You know I am." He grins mischievously and his parents chuckle.

"Yes I know but the others don't." He nods, still grinning. "So, you'll have to wait for our next story time a little bit longer, but I bet you wont guess what happened to us when we travelled through the Blue Mountains!"

"That's a dwarven kingdom! Did they greet you? Let you inside the mountain, battle with you, st-"

"Ah, ah, nope. Not telling, you'll just have to wait until next time." I chuckle as he deflates a little. "So for now, why don't we say goodnight, and see if you can think up as many scenarios about what happened in the Blue Mountains as you can." His eyes widen in excitement and he nods hurriedly.

"I will."

"Good, until next time my young warrior." I ruffle his hair, stand up and chuckle as he skips off.

"It's lovely to see you again Rose." Raye says as he chuckles to himself as he follows after his son.

"Welcome back Rose, it hasn't been the same without you here." Flora tells me as she looks fondly at her boys before patting my shoulder and moving to follow her family.

"You see, you have this aura about you that makes the rest of us feel safe and protected." Percy assures me.

"I'm not the only Guardian to watch over Middle Earth you know, there are others, though I am one of the few who are more physically involved in it though."

"Indeed, nevertheless Aurora, now that I can recall, when you arrived here, some of us thought the worst of it. When really, you are a blessing to us all. A beacon of hope and I don't think many of us realise, appreciate nor understand that."

"A day will come Percy, where everything that I've strive for, will all make sense. And those who doubt and are blind to the fact that there is darkness and evil in this world will finally see. And then, and only then, will they realise and appreciate my work and that of the other guardians and those who have sworn to protect those from harm. Sometimes, living in a hole, beneath the Earth and the rock, can shelter one too much from this world, it makes them doubt, fills them with disbelief and denial, getting your foot out of the door and actually living the life you are given, makes everything clear as day." Something of which I keep telling Bilbo but that stubborn brother of mine will not listen.

He'd rather hide away in his books and read about others adventures rather than living his own.

Percy and I stand there for a moment, taking in my words, finding the deeper meaning of it and I suddenly see a familiar glint in Percy's eyes; belief. And the weight of a single feather is lifted from my shoulders, as there still many people in Middle Earth believe that I; a half dwarven, half elvin lass raised by hobbits and gifted by the Valar, could ever become a Guardian of Middle Earth. Which is one of the reasons as to why I fight so hard for what I have been chosen to do and what I believe in. As much as I strive to have others believe in me, so long as those who I care for the most support my decisions, that's all that matters.

"Let's stop all this serious none-sense. Now, Percy, I know Cas has just scared you into the afterlife and all but I don't suppose I can cash in that favour you owe me? You know, from the one time that involved me distracting your mother at last year's end of harvest party and you with a certain ebony haired lass?" I hint and the realisation dawns on him of that particular occasion, no wonder he'd forgotten about me, probably tried his best to forget all about said occasion and I don't blame him either.

"We agreed never to speak of that. Ever." His cheeks pinken a little.

"I know and I never will, if you are willing to help me."

"It's always the innocent ones that catch you out." He says more to himself and I grin. "Alright, yes, I'll help. Go on then, what does my mistress require of me?" He says tonelessly, but his eyes twinkle with merriment. I knew there's a reason why I like this fella.

"Bilbo doesn't know that I'm home yet, however at the rate of which Cas got us here in, there's no doubt that there's word going round now that I am home already, I need you to nip that in the bud, make sure that everyone keeps mum about this!"

"Consider it done." He grasps my shoulder gently before removing it. He nods, before moving forward with newfound purpose, he doesn't get far as Cas intercepts him. The hobbit jumps in fright again.

"I do believe Cas wants to give you his thanks too. He's very fond of Bilbo." I say, upon realising Cas' intentions and Percy lifts his hand to pat Cas' forehead, a bit awkwardly.

"You're very welcome Cas." I can't help it, but the awkward exchange makes a breathy laugh escape my lips. Seeming to satisfy Cas enough, Percy steps away with a determined look on his face before nodding to himself. "Good Evening." He says before he's off, fast walking along the road that Cas and I have just arrived from on, talking to any hobbit he crosses paths with. It may be venturing late in the evening but word still travels fast in this place.

"Good, ole' Percy." I chuckle as I shake my head at him in amusement.

"Well if it isn't our rare Rose, back from her travels." A voice calls out and I grin as I turn around to greet the person who spoke.

"And if it isn't my favourite animal whisperer." I reply in fun, grinning mischievously at another familiar hobbit.

"That cheek of yours gets worse every time I see you." He chuckles at me, his own grin matching mine as he approaches.

"It keeps you on your toes, and besides, you and I both know you love it, Tony." Shaking his head at me, he ruffles my hair, like he's done ever since I arrived in the Shire and every time I've come back from my travels, older and wiser. He will always see me as the young lass who would sneak into the stables to see the ponies and give them one too many sweet treats. Thus creating best animal friends wherever I go.

"Aye, can't deny that now, can I?" He sighs dramatically, before chuckling to himself. "Hello Cas, she been keeping you right, boy?" He asks Cas, as he takes the abandoned reigns and pulls them off of him. Cas whinnies merrily next to him. "She has? Jolly good, otherwise I'd be having words you know?" I chuckle at him. "Now come along, boy, lets get you settled in, I'm sure you've had a long journey." Cas huffs in agreement before looking at me with a pointed look. I hold my hands up in surrender.

Shaking his head at me, Cas willingly follows Tony, not that he needs encouragement or direction and I follow them to the stable, wanting to make sure that my companion is taken care of after our travels before I turn in too. He makes himself right at home the moment he walks through the doors, of course, he already knows every inch of this stable. He has his very own stall, especially made for him and only him, ready for him all year round, at the back of the stable, away from the others. He's a people person with everyone but his own kin for some reason.

"That's my boy." I say, stroking his forehead before he dunks it into his water bucket unceremoniously, gulping down as much water as he can, and I chuckle. "Take it easy Cas, it's not going to dry up anytime soon. You're the one that ran the entire way home not me." Tony chuckles to himself, patting the tops of the other ponies sheltered in his stable, who are all looking curiously at Cas and I.

"My, my, I've never seen him so puffed out. You must've been booking it to get back here." The cheery fellow leans against a post, a pipe between his lips as he puffs out smoke rings, his chubby cheeks bouncing with every movement.

"I assure you not, all I had to do was mention that I could smell food and I'm pretty sure he just imagined your tasty oats and raisins supper and he ran for it." At the sound of food, Cas' head shoots up, a stream of water rushing out of his mouth as he stares pointedly at Tony, as if to remind him of bringing said meal to him. I chuckle as his tail begins swishing in excitement, much like a dog.

"Oh, I see how it is. And here I thought you liked my company Cas." Tony laughs off the affronted snort Cas gives him. "At least I know one pony belly will be full tonight." He says as he moves around the stable, filling a medium sized bucket full of oats and raisins and giving a splash of water and a drizzle of honey before stirring the mixture. "I tried giving that lot over there some of my speciality and the buggers just turned their noses up at it." He nods his head in the direction of the other ponies under his care and smile sympathetically at him.

"The poor dears are probably not used to such a delicacy." I say in reply as I walk over and pet a hazel coloured pony. The movement catching the attention of the others, who all pop their heads out of their stalls, eager for some attention too. I chuckle a little at that and make my rounds to each of them.

He tuts at this before manoeuvring the bucket onto the allocated peg on the pillar next to Cas, whose head happily dives straight into it. "You can't grumble at it, this stuff will keep them going for days, it don't taste too bad either, if I do say so myself." Scratching the top of his bald head he sighs. "The only thing I can give them is a bucket full of apples and carrots and a bale of hay, otherwise those dwarves will think I've starved them." He mutters before applying himself to the task of feeding the fussy ponies. Leaving myself and Cas to ourselves for a moment.

"Dwarves?" I asks, shocked. Tripping over my own feet, falling to the floor, I tuck and roll, swiftly bouncing back up onto my feet in a blink of an eye. I brush off my lack of coordination as Tony grumbles to himself. My eyes then narrow suspiciously as I gaze over the other ponies. "Dwarves very rarely stop off in the shire, last I checked, I'm the only one that does." I say more to myself. Cas lifts his head, looking at me in a certain way, silently communicating; maybe this is the reason why you felt the need to come home?

"Well, in the time I've ran this place, I can probably can't on two hands the amount of dwarves that have passed through here." Tony, selective hearing and all, replies back as he continues his work. I look towards Cas, a small sliver of worry in my eyes.

"Why would I be needed? Especially now and with dwarves. You of all creatures know of my history with the dwarves Cas, they'd rather be insulted than accept my help? And in the Shire of all places? There's something else at work here, a higher power has stepped in on this, I can feel it." I suddenly spot a horse, dozing off slightly, just by the front doors, which is why I missed the creature when I first walked in. I niggle of suspicion rises in me at that, what being would pass through the Shire? One large enough to ride a horse!?

"Did you say something lass?" Tony calls, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Huh, oh, I just said that it isn't a common thing, seeing dwarves in these parts. Usually it's only me."

"Aye, well, there's been a change in the wind Rose. I thought so myself, that maybe one was just passing through, but then several followed shortly after the first one arrived. Tall and scary, that fella was. Didn't like the looks of him. Dwalin, I think the lads name was, here, I have the check in sheets here, see if you recognize any of them." So, I did. Moving towards him, I take the sheet and begin scrolling through the names, signatures and which pony belonged to whom as he moves to gather some buckets.

First there was a Dwalin, then a Balin, Fili, Kili, Oin, Gloin, Dori, Nori, Ori, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur. I frown, none of them ringing any bells. Though it seemed, some of them happened to be related to another. Families of dwarves! In the Shire no less. I think for a bit, going back to the times of when I visited several dwarf kingdoms, trying to recall if I ever met any individuals with these names, at least, the ones that were kind enough to take pity on a lass such as myself. But no, none of them ring any bells.

"None of them are familiar." I say to myself before looking back at the list.

"Gandalf?" I gasp, after reading his name, lifting my gaze to Tony's.

"Eh? Oh yes Gandalf, I knew there was something I wanted to tell you, Gandalf's here." He tuts to himself and I roll my eyes at him before he carries on. "Anyway, where was I? Yes, so when the second dwarf arrived, he was short and a bit wider than the other, oh he had white hair and a white beard too, interesting beard too, I liked him, good fellow. Manners that one had." I smirk at his expression, continuing to look at the last name before myself.

"Thorin." I whisper, in disbelief. "Thorin, as in Thorin Oakenshield?" I say a little louder, asking Tony, bewildered and in denial that the King Under the Mountain happens to be in the Shire.

"Hmm? Oh, no, I don't think so lass, then again who am I to know who's who? He just signed it as Thorin, son of Thrain." He says more to himself as he scratches the back of his head idly, lost in thought. "Anyway, before that last one arrived, Gandalf seemed to know the bunch, so looks like a merry gathering between the dwarves and himself, eh?"

"What are you up to Gandalf?" I whisper to myself before setting the sheet back onto Tony's desk. "Tony, what were the other dwarves like, the ones that came after Dwalin and Balin? You know that I'm better with faces than I am with names."

"Oh aye, so shortly after the white dwarf arrived, half an hour or so, two brothers I think they were, came along. I assumed they were brothers, what with the way they were carrying on with each other. One of them; was it the brown haired one?" He stops, before moving to a wheel barrow full of finely chopped up vegetables, he divides it and begins pouring out a portion into each bucket before moving a bag of grain, he stops, thinking. "Or was it the blonde one, yes the blonde one, he looked the oldest, not by far because they both looked fairly young to me, but as you know, dwarves age differently to us, one can never really tell how old one is and with dwarves its al-" He trails off, lost in thought as he fills another set of the buckets up, getting caught up with feeding the ponies.

"Tony, back to me, what was the blonde dwarf doing?" I say a little impatiently, because having dwarves in the Shire possibly with the exiled Dwarf King and with Gandalf too, left me feeling a little bit uneased. And I'm protective of those of the Shire, more so of Bilbo. Usually Gandalf will give me a heads up if he happens to be in these parts, so already I've got a bone to pick with him.

"Huh? Blonde one, oh yes, blonde. Well he was pulling off all these weapons from the bags on his pony, one after another after another, I was certain he'd brought everything but the kitchen knives." He gives a bewildered laugh before wiping his forehead and goes back to filling the buckets, he crouches down and heaves at the newly opened bag of grain, but it doesn't budge. "Oomph! Sometimes I forget I'm not as young as I think I am." He grumbles when he can't lift the bag the second time round that he attempts it.

"Perhaps it would help, if you weren't standing on it?" I laugh incredulously at him as I inform him of this. He stops and looks at me for a moment. I know, I know, my laugh is unique. It's one of those laughs that can either sound like an absolute cackle that will make you laugh from the bottom of your belly or be as breathy, as it is just now, it sounds like a sigh from the heavens above. Either way, both laughs distract others, just like it's distracted Tony now.

"Eh? Oh! Oh, I see, yes that would just be the case wouldn't it?" He chuckles, moving his foot and lifting the bag to where he needs it. "I'm always having trouble with these things, can't really complain, the missus loves them too much and you know what they say about big feet. He says this to himself before he remembers that I am still here, that he still sees me as the young and innocent lass he first met cuddled up with a bunch of ponies. He forgets the warrior side of me.

But I laugh anyways and he looks at me horrified as he realises what the words he just spoke and what it implied.

"I-I, I did not say that lass! You didn't hear that! Oh dear, I had to say that, in front of her no less, probably scarred the poor lass for life." I can't help it, with the bizarre situation and company, the laughter rips out of me in a rush. I have to inhale deeply to catch my breath before another load of laughter comes out. I end up laughing so hard, I have to grab onto a post for fear of falling over while the other hand clenches at the spasming stomach muscles.

"Oh-haha- oh dear lord that one tickled. Believe me when I say this Tony, I've heard worse on my travels." Another giggle, before I wipe the tears from my eyes. "As you were saying about the blonde one." Another giggle escapes before I breathe in deeply, in hopes to stop any stray giggles from coming out. Trying to compose myself.

"Blonde one?" He stands there dumbfounded, completely side-lined. "Blonde?" He thinks to himself for a moment before it came to him. "The blonde one." He cries in relief and points to me, to which I clap and cheer.

"Yes, the blonde one, Tony." I chuckle, honestly, sometimes, hobbits and their memories.

"Aye, well, he looked older due to the beard he sported, you know about dwarves and their beards don't you?" I nod, trying not to roll my eyes.

I might've been raised by hobbits, but I certainly knew just about everything about Dwarves. And their culture, my culture. The same as I learnt everything about my Elvin side, and their culture too. Including their languages. I knew pretty much everything but whom my parents were. Something of which apparently nobody knew of.

"Well after he'd finished unpacking, he'd said something along the lines of 'not wanting to be late' and something about a meeting of some sort and before I knew it, they were off. Fast little buggers I can tell you." He went around setting up each bucket for the ponies on a peg, sixteen of them I noted.

"It's a known fact that us dwarves can move when the occasion calls for it." I chuckle, remembering the first time I met Tony, I bolted out of the stables as if someone had lit a fire under my ass. Poor Tony couldn't keep up with me, back when he was in his prime too. He chuckles too, thinking of the same memory.

"So, after I made sure that the four ponies I already had in my care, were comfy before I made my leave. I open the door to find a whole pack of them waiting, with Gandalf towering over the lot of them too. I was shocked, I mean it's as you said, it's not often you see dwarves in these parts. It's not often to see such a company of them in one day either. So, I just stood there and opened the door wider for them, of course Gandalf explained who was who and which pony belonged to whom as I took down the names, he then asked if any other dwarves had signed in, he seemed very keen to know if any had."

The hazel coloured pony whinnies and I reach for her, soothing her as she awaits her meal. "There now, it's alright." I murmur.

"I said yes and suddenly it was like one of Gandalf's fireworks had been set off, the dwarves started ranting and raving, quickly relieving their ponies of; well to be honest I didn't quite see what the ponies were carrying and I'm not one to pry into others people's business's. But then one mentioned missing supper and they were gone in a heartbeat." Once he finishes fixing the bucket to the last pillar, he gives the last pony a pat to the head before going to seat himself at his desk. "Once they left, I had to tidy up the place a bit, lost track of time I suppose because a good half 'our later another chap turns up, grumpy fellow really, handed me his pony and asked if I knew where a 'Bilbo Baggins' lived, I just pointed up the hill and before I could say how many doors down, he was gone." He let a big whoosh and waved his arms about. My heart stops and the air leaves my lungs.

"Wait, he asked about Bilbo? Do you mean to tell me, that there are thirteen dwarves and Gandalf at Bag End?"

"I'm presuming so my dear."

"With Bilbo?!" I didn't give Tony a chance to reply, I simply grabbed my bags that Tony had already relieved Cas of and proved to Tony that I still have the speed, if not a bit faster, that my younger self expressed and pretty took off in a trail of dust, up to the hobbit hole I've known for 30 years now, the hole I've called home for, home being where Bilbo is. Ambushed by 13 dwarves and the meddling wandering wizard also known as Gandalf the grey.

Oh Bilbo! The poor dear has just learnt to live with my habits, of which it's taken years for him to get accustomed to. And that's just one dwarf/elf lass, now he has thirteen of them in Bag End! And Gandalf too. I can only imagine what state he is in, never mind Bag End.