I'm gonna do my to update as soon as I can but it'll probably be around 2-3 months between each update.
Editor- we try to be as fast as we can so you can enjoy the next chapter. Many of you seem to be enjoying these so I'll keep on the author to write as often as possible.
I get very distracted and have a decent amount of homewo-
You have a story to write no homework for you.
I'd love that-could you speak to my teachers?
XD Nvm. Sorry guys you gotta wait a few months for updates but we will be consistent on updating every 2-3 months.
Probably.
We won't abandon the story!
The next morning I woke to someone calling my name. I ignored them and rolled over. Then promptly got a face full of dirt. I rolled over to glare at the person coughing, obviously trying to hide their laughter, at my spluttering. Bilbo was trying not to outright laugh at me. I caught some dwarves snickering. I promptly raised my arm and flipped them off. Ignoring Bilbo's scolding "Razena!" I sat up and slumped, rubbing at my eyes.
"Morning already?" I hated how short night felt while sleeping.
"Yes Razena, it's time to get moving," He hands me two pieces of meat. "Gandalf says we should arrive at Bree by evening."
"Really? Are we stopping there?" I cross my legs, leaning forward.
"I'm told we're stopping for more supplies and the night."
"Good I'd love to get better supplies," I said.
"How? I forgot to grab my gold…" He trails off and I grin sheepishly reaching into my pack and pull out his coin pouch.
"I still had it on me from that time the human traders came into the market," I shove the purse back into my bag. "Remember you gave it to me, then I got sick and missed them. You told me I could hold onto it for you as Hobbits had very little use for gold."
He shrugs as though what I was saying was fair. "We don't often use gold but occasionally we do business with people who do. Hobbits-" I cut him off before he could start a lesson.
"Yes, Bilbo," my tone somewhere between fond and annoyed, "I remember, Hobbits trade with each other for their goods, you taught me well." I smile at him handing him my second piece of dried meat. He huffs but takes it.
"At least something I've said has stuck with you." He looked annoyed but his voice told me otherwise. I laughed and gathered my pelt, made it as small as possible before stuffing it into my bag. I'd have to get something to secure it to my pack it took up so much room. Bilbo's stomach rumbled so loud I thought a whale had suddenly appeared next to me and squashed my friend. I stuck my hand into his bag unwrapped some of our food and shoved it into his hands.
"Eat," I commanded storing the food back into his pack. He had taken his first bite when everyone was up and ready. Thorin was hurrying everyone, shouting at everyone to get moving. Bilbo looked over at his pony in despair.
"Want a boost?" I asked him guessing his height might impair how well he can get on a pony. He doesn't like to ride so I don't think he ever learned how to get on one. He gives me a thankful look. We head over to his pony and I link my hands together by my fingers. His foot flattens my hands each side pressing on my wrists.
"On the count of three," I tell him he nods. "One," I bring my hands down then back up. "Two," I repeated the motion. "Three," Bilbo pushes off the ground and I push his foot up. He manages to swing his other leg up and I almost get kicked in the face. I make sure he's settled on the pony before moving away to find my ride. Gandalf was sitting on his horse waiting for me. I quickly swung myself onto the back of the saddle.
Most of the morning was quite everyone still groggy. Fili and Kili seemed to have boundless energy playing eye spy and generally being massive goofs. It wasn't till almost noon that Gandalf spoke to me.
"That sword you carry," he glanced back. "I haven't quite seen anything like it before, would you mind terribly, if I had a look?"
I shrugged and handed it to him. "It's called a machete. Though mine is a bit old and I probably haven't cared for it the right way. "
"Machete you say?" He turned it over in his hands inspecting the blade. "Are you proficient in wielding this blade?"
"Proficient...enough, I guess." I glanced off to the side and shifted on the saddle.
"Is this the only blade you can wield?"
"Yea?" I answered not really seeing the point of the question.
"And this is your main weapon?"
"No, it's just for extremely close range," I patted my gun holster. "This is my main weapon."
"Interesting, and what might that be my dear,"
"It's called a gun, it kind of like a bow but better," I could tell he didn't believe me, but that's ok. If someone had told me two years ago that I'd be riding a horse, with a wizard, and a group of dwarves, to fight a dragon I would have laughed.
"So that flimsy blade is all you have?" I jumped at the new voice. Dwalin took my machete from Gandalf and inspected it. He evidently didn't like what he saw as he snapped the blade in half.
"What the-!" I flinched closer to Gandalf. Besides being very impressed I was also terrified. He had just snapped the machete in half. He threw the pieces into the ground and if it wasn't for my momentary fear I'd have made a comment about littering. No one else seemed phased except Bilbo who was inching his pony away.
I swallowed my fear. "Well now I just have to punch my enemy's in the face, I guess," I tried to keep my tone light in fear of setting him off. He scowled at me and huffed as if he had come to a conclusion he wasn't happy with.
"You'll get a better one in Bree, one that'll be able to hold up under another's blade," he growled. My real question was if I'd be able to hold up under that kind of strength.
"One that I can lift, I hope," I mumbled under my breath.
"Ah but master Dwalin then there would be the problem of teaching her how to use it," Gandalf interrupted a suspiciously sneaky glint in his eyes.
"I know how to use it! You jam the sharp end into the bad guys," I meant it more of a joke but I'm not entirely sure it was taken that way. Dwalin growled something about 'untrained', and that's all I caught.
"You'll train with me," that's all he said before riding off to his brother and having what I assume was a heated conversation in their language. I looked up at Gandalf with a 'what the heck just happened face.
"I do believe you have just gained a teacher," Gandalf said and faced forward again, focusing on the road again. I looked back at Bilbo but judging by his open mouth he was as confused as I was.
The rest of the day was, thankfully, less confusing. I played more traveling games with Kili, Fili, and Bilbo. We even got Ori to play with us after lunch. I had one piece of dried meat again for lunch. Then talked with Bilbo and Gandalf for the rest of the afternoon. My stomach was furious at me by sometime around five o'clock. I dug around in my bag for one of those really stale protein bars. I stuffed the wrapper back into my bag. I wasn't looking forward to eating it and for a good reason too because it was nasty. I almost gagged on my first bite. It was a war between my stomach and my tongue and my stomach won. Gandalf has glanced back but hadn't asked me anything. I was grateful for that, as I was having a hard time keeping the bar down. Any talking and I would have had some serious problems. As much as I hated the taste of that bar, I'd hate it mixed with my own stomach acid more.
Another hour or two later and I could see the gates of Bree. Bree didn't look anything like I was expecting. The wall surrounding it was made of wooden planks and from the smell I expected to hear a bell with a voice calling 'bring out your dead!' It didn't smell of rotten flesh exactly, that smell was seared into my brain, but it was nearly as bad. They definitely needed some lessons from the hobbits who kept their land smelling clean and earthy. I had expected the medieval looking buildings but I hadn't prepared myself for this, some of the older buildings were rotting. The hobbits knew what was up and I'd never live in a human town, ever. There was a single guard at the gate and I tried to keep the disgust off of my face through the entire town. There were men, women, and even some hobbits, or children I couldn't see their feet, walking down the dirt, manure infested streets. Their clothing was worn and dirty and I was the only girl wearing pants. Which in itself got me a bunch of stares, or maybe it was our traveling group. A man in gray robes, with a ridiculous matching gray pointy hat, thirteen dwarfs, a hobbit, and a girl who wasn't in a dress. All in all, I had just gotten here and I couldn't wait to leave.
"Gandalf?" I tried to keep my voice neutral. "When are we leaving?" I must have not completely hidden my unease or maybe it was just a wizard thing because he seemed to understand.
"Tomorrow, my dear. You have nothing to fear, they are simply curious." I looked at the people again and while most of them looked curious, there was an underlying distrust and even if I didn't understand why it was there, it made me nervous and a tiny bit uncomfortable. Were these people still doing witch trials? Was that a thing in middle earth? I really hoped not. Bilbo had never mentioned anything, but then again he wasn't an expert in the history of men.
We came to a stop outside a place called the Prancing Pony. Honestly I missed the Shire already, it has spoiled me. This building looked...sturdy, I guess. Gandalf dismounted and turned to Thorin.
"I will go acquire our rooms and have a stable hand sent out." Thorin grunted and Gandalf quickly made his way into the wooden building. I was left sitting on his horse. I slid further into the saddle and Bilbo came to a stop next to me. He shifted on his saddle glancing around us. I was sure he'd mentioned being here before, a trip with his mother. I wondered briefly how much it'd changed. A few minutes of awkward sitting later and a boy, maybe ten years old, came out and lead us to the stables in the back.
I had dismounted to lead Gandalf's horse into the stable when the boy fell into step next to me. He really didn't seem comfortable speaking to the dwarves or standing too close to them for that matter. Wonder if it was the weapons or grumpy looks? Four foot something grumpy garden gnomes with weapons, I'd be wary too.
"You're travelers, right?" I nodded and he continued. "I've always wanted to see other places, but Pa says it's too dangerous."
"Dangerous?"
He nodded his head quickly. "Pa says that there are wolves, bandits, thieves, wargs and orcs. But he says it's even more dangerous now with the bandits that have been bothering people so close to Bree."
"They wouldn't bother the people in Bree, would they?" I asked looking down at the dirty boy.
"Pa says they wouldn't dare, not with the guards. But he's worried about the trading caravans, and the carts bring in and out goods. He also says their bad for business, whatever that means." He shrugged and took the reins from me. He began to lead the horse and I followed.
"Why are you in Bree, miss?"
"Just passing through, if I told you any more I'd have to kill ya," I winked at him so he knew it was a joke. He giggled, like giggle giggled, how old was this kid?
"Can you use a sword? My Pa can, he says he'll teach me when I'm a bit older. I don't know many women who can. Except crazy old lady Mary. And a couple of girls who live near the gates." The boy rambled as we walked it was dark inside the stables only light was from torches and the few windows. Torches, horses, and hay what a great combination. An older man who has been speaking with Thorin before turned at the sound of the boys voice.
"Lad don't be bothering the lady now, run on back inside," the boy turned and with a quick goodbye ran back to the inn. What an adorable boy. I hope that wasn't the last time I'd get to talk to him.
"He wasn't bothering me, though I never caught his name," I told him while he lead the horse into a stall. I stopped near Bilbo, who was glancing nervously at all the large animals.
"That's Argyle. He's a bit talkative but a nice boy. I'm Luison, I take care of the horses for his father, not for free for of course."
"Of course, you've got to make coin," I waved goodbye as we left. Gandalf met us at the door. He handed out keys and room numbers. Then the group split up for supplies given assignments by Thorin. I had totally forgotten about the trip to the blacksmiths with Dwalin until he motioned for me to follow him. I grabbed Bilbo from where he was talking with the dwarf with the really impressive rope loop beard. If I'm going anywhere Bilbo will be coming with me. I dragged him as he said frantic goodbyes.
"Alright, I'm ready," Dwalin raised an eyebrow at Bilbo. "Hey, we're a package deal."
"I can see that," he turned an stalked off.
"Mister Dwalin!" I called after him as Bilbo and I hurried to catch up to the grumpy dwarf. He didn't stop but slowed. I slipped my bag around and dug through it pulling out a single bullet. I held it out to Dwalin. "Do you think they could make me some more of these?"
He took it from me and looked it over. He hummed a little. "I don't know, lassie. It might take too much time." My shoulders slumped and Bilbo looked curiously at the small object.
"What is it?" I blinked down at him.
"Oh that's right I forgot I've never shown you before." I unholstered my gun and unloaded the magazine. I showed it to him and Dwalin. "The bullets, that little piece of metal, go in here then when I go to fire there's a little hammer that hits the back and ignites the gunpowder. That mini explosion sends this little piece of metal flying out of the barrel." I pointed to the part of the gun subconsciously keeping the gun pointed away from all living, non-zombie-fied creatures."This little thing can then pierce skin and bone and even other stronger stuff. It does a ton of damage."
"If it explodes then that contraption is only good once," Dwalin looked at the, to him, useless weapon.
"No, no, it- works more than once…. I can't really explain how," I sighed but Bilbo seemed to understand.
"It's probably better if we didn't know anyways. From what you've told us, we don't want more of those around," Bilbo handed me back the bullet and I pocketed it. Smiling apologetically at them, I decided it was probably best if I learned to not rely on my gun so much. I'd seen the damage people could do with them. I didn't want that happening to middle earth. I put my gun up and dodged a person who wasn't watching where they were going. We were heading into a more crowded part of the town. There were shops and stalls where people were selling their goods. I kept close to Dwalin, who seemed to have a bubble around him, and one hand on Bilbo's shoulder. Soon we approached a building with the classic blacksmith sign, an anvil, and hammer, hanging near the door. I wasn't nearly as busy in the shop as it was outside. There was swords, armor, shields, daggers, and spears hanging on display. There was a boy carrying something to a table while a man swung a hammer onto a red hot piece of metal. Most of the swords looked way too heavy, there were a couple smaller, and therefore lighter, looking ones that would probably work. I picked up a scabbard the was slightly curved, the handle was slightly curved as well but it was made out of a combination of leather and a mix of silver and gold colored metal. The handguard only went one way so I guessed it was a one-sided sword. I pulled the sword from the scabbard and was transfixed. The metal gleamed and there was a swirling silver design flowing down the blade. It was light enough in my hand and was probably around the length of my arm.
"Oooh, it's got a matching dagger too," I pulled the straight blade from the leather cover. It had a smaller version of the swirls and was a two-sided blade. I resisted the urge to fight fake enemies with sharp things I really, technically didn't know how to use. Instead, I spun to show them to Dwalin only to find my shoulders dropping and my excited smile sliding off my face at the small scowl on his. "What?"
"Oh I see you have found one of our Elvish sets," I jumped a little and cursed my lack of awareness, I'd been in the Shire too long. The old man from the back had walked up to the counter with a grandfatherly smile.
"These are elvish?" I looked back at the blades in my hands with a new fascination.
"Aye, lass, I got those a few years ago, from a nice elvish fellow looking for some gold." The man came around the counter and took the scabbards that I was holding awkwardly between my arm and side. I was able to hold the dagger in a more relaxed grip. They looked so cool, like fantasy video game cool. I nearly giggled from giddiness, I was holding elvish weapons! The old man's smile grew.
"Bilbo! Dwalin! I want these!" Dwalin scowl was still there but not as intense and Bilbo sighed in fond exasperation.
"You didn't even ask how much," he shook his head.
"Oh right," it had slipped my mind in my excitement. I mean totally understandable, elvish weapons. "How much mister…"
"Erandotus, those two together lass would be about 100 gold pieces," I handed the weapons back to Erandotus and dug for Bilbo's gold pouch. I knew for a fact that we had 246 gold in there but 100 gold? I didn't know much about swords but I did know I wasn't up to paying that much. I felt bad about tricking the old man but it wasn't like I wasn't gonna pay him at all. Just….a little less than what he wanted. I made a show of digging and counting the coins. I pulled out my best acting skills when I let my face drop in disappointment. Bilbo seemed to catch on. He sighed.
"I'm sorry Razena, maybe we could find something else," I caught a glint of mischief on his face. "Maybe we could find a trader out in the market with a better price." Dwalin took the blades from my hands and looked them over. A disapproving sneer on his face and I thought for a second that he was going to break these too.
"100 gold for some worthless steel?" He scoffed shoving them back at the man. "I know carpenters who make wooden swords better than this cheap metal. The lass would be better off with her own hands."
"I would have my old one but someone broke it," I accused and there was a slight amount of fear in the shop owners eyes as Dwalin scoffed again.
"Don't waste our time, trying to rob us of our gold,"
"Alright 90"
"85," Bilbo countered. "We do have other necessities we need to acquire."
"Aye, aye," The blacksmith hurried to agree. "85 gold for both the sword and the dagger." I fished the amount out of the bag and traded the coins for the blades in their sheaths. I waved goodbye and as we walked out the door I had to ask what Dwalin really thought about the blades.
"The tree-huggers know their blades, not as well as us Dwarves, but they are sturdy, and light."
"Hey!" I pointed at him jokingly offended. "I'm not weak!" He snorted, though I thought I saw a tiny, amused smile for half a second.
"That is yet to be determined, lassie," I made an indignant noise in the back of my throat. They both laughed at me even though Bilbo had no business laughing. I was stronger than him after all. We made the rest of our shopping quick as we were eager to sleep in an actual bed.
Walking into the tavern it was like I expected, loud, with a bunch of drunk men. The waitresses? I couldn't remember if that was what they were called, were serving them drinks and food. The wooden tables had seen too many drunk, drooling faces pressed against them. The chairs, surprisingly looked like normal wooden chairs give or take a few scratches. I guess you can't really keep royally messed up wooden chairs in a place where people constantly get hammered. The stone fireplace had an inviting crackling fire that managed to warm the entire room. It reminded me a little of the Green Dragon back in the Shire. I hadn't been in there a whole bunch but for the occasional messenger job. Where I had to fetch the person, sober or otherwise.
I was glad the sound was muffled upstairs where the rooms where. I was sharing a small room with a window overlooking the street and buildings across the way. There were two beds shoved up against one wall. I was sharing a room with Bilbo and Gandalf. Dwalin, Balin, and the one with ear trumpet and his brother were sharing. While Ori, and his brothers were sharing another. The three B brothers/cousins were in another. The royal family it seemed, was sharing the last room. The rooms were plain, A wooden bed frame and a straw mattress, a decent pillow with handmade pillowcases and quilt thrown on top. Honestly, I was just happy it wasn't dirt. Gandalf got one bed to himself and I refused to let Bilbo take the floor. He, hesitantly shared the bed with me, probably because I liked to use him as a teddy bear. It's not my fault hobbits are cuddly.
I woke the next morning alone sprawled out across the bed, quilt tangled around my body. When I tried to get up it ended up tripping me and I went tumbling to the ground. Untangling myself, I changed quickly after locking the door from the inside. I ventured out of the door into the thin hallway that was lined with doors leading to other rooms. At one end was a window the other the stairway, the stairs creaked on my way down. I stood on the bottom stair and tried to find the rest of my group. It wasn't hard to find them, they were eating breakfast and laughing loudly. Bilbo and Gandalf sat at the end of the table discussing something separate from the dwarves. It was Ori who actually first noticed my approach. He shyly waved me over to a seat by him. I hadn't known him long but was surprised by the empty chair to the side of him. One or both of his older brothers was always hovering over him. Not this morning apparently thought Dori was on his other side.
"Good Morning, Mister Ori." I only hesitated a little on his name. "How did you sleep?" I plopped down into my chair and turned to face him.
"Well- I slept well, My lady," he stammered and blushed.
"Razena, Mister Ori," I told him before turning to thank the woman who had set down a plate of food in front of me. He looked surprised.
"Then you may call me Ori," he grinned shyly up at me.
"Well then, Ori are you excited to be heading to the mountain?" I knew how secret this quest was so I didn't specifically say which mountain. He looked over his eyes dancing with amusement and another emotion I couldn't name.
"I've- uh never actually been there," He confessed nervously glancing around as if expecting to be scolded.
"Really?" I turned more toward him and rested an elbow on the table.
"I was born a few years after the attack," he explained vaguely or vaguely to anyone else not in our group.
I blinked, I hadn't thought it was that long ago. "May I ask when this event happened?" I was kind of fun being vague.
"You may, it was around 171 years ago," he said casually as if that wasn't a freaking long time. If I had been drinking I would have done a spit take.
"W-what?" I choked looking at him with wide eyes. His eyebrows were drawn down in concern. "I'm sorry, I could have sworn you said 171 years ago."
"You heard me correctly, only Balin, Dwalin, Thorin, Oin and Gloin were there. The rest of us weren't born yet or lived in the Blue Mountains." I gaped at him for a few seconds desperately trying to wrap my head around that some of them were older than 171. I lost all control of my brain to mouth filter.
"You guys are old!" I blurted then slapped my hands over my mouth. "Ah, wait I'm sorry that was really rude, but wow! Just wow!"
"Who're you calling old, lass?" I snapped my head up with what I'm sure was a deer in the headlights expression. I was greeted by an unimpressed dwarf in a strange hat. There was no way I was coming up with his name at the moment.
"I-I mean- It's just- I thought Bilbo was old," I ignored his offended
"I'll have you know I'm perfectly middle aged!"
"And he's 50 but then I find out some of you are more than 100 years old! I didn't mean to be offensive- really it's just shocking- not that there's anything wrong with being old-I'm rambling, I should stop talking." I buried my head into my arms on top of the table. I wanted to disappear. Could Gandalf make me invisible?
"No, It's quite understandable, my dear." Gandalf came to my rescue. Thank the Valar. "While Men and Hobbits have relatively similar lifespans, hobbits the longer-lived of the two. Dwarrow live for a far longer than either. The only other race that lives longer is the elves."
"See perfectly understandable!" I said but as my face was still buried in my arms it came out muffled. There was a question grunted across the table from us. I recognized the voice as the dwarf with the ax in his head. I lifted my head enough to look at him and he was staring at me.
"Can someone translate?"
"He asked how old you were, lass." The hatted one answered.
Ori's brother with the braided eyebrows answered "We know Bilbo is fifty now," there was a mutter of 'so young' somewhere along the table "I'm apprehensive to learn your age lass."
"I'm, ah, seventeen," I admitted someone choked on their drink.
"You're practically a baby lassie!"
"I'm not a baby!"
"They're both children,"
"Hey!" I tried to get their attention before we got kicked out from all the noise they were making. Bilbo's lips were pursed in his displeasure at being called a baby. "Biblos a middle-aged hobbit, and I'm an adult."
Bilbo coughed and I shot him a glare. I was trying to smooth things over. I rolled my eyes but did what he wanted. "Almost an adult,"
Thorin buried his hands into his hands. "We've brought children into this,"
"I just said we aren't kids." I threw my hands up in frustration. "Were you not listening to a word I just said?"
"Well I'm not a child," Bilbo clarified.
Way to throw me under the cart, Bilbo."Hey!" They continue to mutter about our ages. Having enough, I shoved my food into my mouth grabbed my packed up bag stormed to the stables. I'd cool off out there. I wasn't a child, I hadn't been for a while. I was dragged out of my thoughts but the two furiously gesturing figures by the stables. It was the old man, Luison and another taller man. His hair was dirty like the rest of the people in this town but I thought I saw some blond hidden beneath the filth. His leather armor and clothing was as dirty as the rest of him. They were both had fists clenched tightly at their sides when they weren't waving about, showing their owners displeasure with the other man. I thought for a second that Luison had gotten into some trouble with an angry traveler. Then I got closer, moving to help the older man when I heard Luison speak.
"You bastard! You're going to get us both killed!" I stopped, that was the last thing I expected to hear. It was also very suspicious, I inched closer doing my best to stay out of their line of sight.
"Keep it down!" The man hissed, looking around warily. I quickly ducked behind a wall. Holding my breath, listening intently for any sign that he'd seen me. "Do you want me to get caught?! it's not like they will notice, it's just a map and key they won't know it's gone until they are already out of town." The darker man retorted.
"Obviously it was important if you had to try so damn hard!" Luison wiped a hand down his face. "Just please tell me you still have them." He must have seen something on his face, as he cursed. I had gathered that the map and key were Thorins. I honestly wonder when Thorin, Thorin, left himself so vulnerable that some man was able to steal something so important. I had to get back to them and pray to the Valar that they believed me. Hopefully the missing map and key were proof enough. I tried to act natural. Walking like I hadn't seen or heard them.
"Ah lass," I winced when Luison called to me. His voice back to calm, almost kind. I turned, slowly, and drew upon my best acting skills.
"Hello, mister Luison," I really hope my smile didn't look as fake as it was.
"What are you doing out here without the rest of your group?" The man behind him narrowed his eyes at me and I fought off the urge to fidget.
"They'd annoyed me so I thought I'd wait out with the horses for them," I laughed, trying to stick to the truth as much as possible. I shifted trying to look embarrassed instead of uncomfortable. "I walked right past the stables. By the time I figured out I was going the wrong way my irritation was bearable." I didn't think the other man entirely believed me.
"Who's your friend?"
"None of your business," I jumped and took a step back not having expected the man to speak.
"I..uh," I took another step back and gestured to the inn. "I'd better be getting back inside, nice seeing you mister Luison." I forced myself to turn my back and calmly walk-in to the building. My heart was pounding by the time I closed the door. I hurried over to the table where the dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf were still sitting. Bilbo must have noticed something in my face as he sat up straighter.
"Razena, what's wrong?" I gave him a small smile trying to reassure him. I turned to Thorin.
"Thorin I think someone might have stolen your map and key." He sat up straighter as did the other dwarves.
Is that a look appropriate for this?
He gave me that look, like one would give a child who's telling you something you know is wrong, and you think its funny so you indulge them. "And what gave you that ridiculous idea Lady Razena?"
"I was just outside and I overheard some men talking, someone stole a key," I scanned the room, seeing nothing obvious I turned back. "Look if you don't believe me that's fine, you barely know me, but please I'd feel a lot better if you'd just checked. I know how important those items are to this quest." I'd dropped my voice into a whisper for the last sentence. He glared but reached into the bag by his feet. His face didn't change but by the way he searched his pockets I'd say that he was starting to panic on the inside. Like realizing your phone isn't in your back pocket, then finding out its been stolen by some, by some crazy man who really, really needs a bath.
He snapped his head up and stared at me intensely. "Where were these men?"
I honestly felt kinda bad for Luison. I mean if I was on the receiving end of the looks he was getting I'd have probably wet myself by now. Not to mention Dwalins axe was pointed straight at his throat while two dwarves each held an arm behind his back. Thorin grabbed the man's chin and yanked so that their faces were level.
"You filthy excuse for a man, where are my belongings," Thorin was going for intimidation. He didn't yell but his voice was sharp, angry, and his eyes were digging holes into the taller man.
"I do not have them," he didn't go into further detail but I already knew he didn't have them.
"Yeah your friend already sent them off, sold them maybe, but you probably know where to find him,"
You…You…Traitor," Luison was glaring at me.
"Traitor to who?" I asked. "I don't know you." Thorin narrowed his eyes at me then barked something at the starfish haired one, Nori, who came to stand by me. The man just had to say traitor, didn't he?
"You can't be serious?!" I glanced between them outraged. "I'm the one who told you about it in the first place!"
"Just a precaution lassie," I glared at Nori. This was ridiculous!
Thorin turned his attention back to the restrained man. "You going to take us to the thief."
"And if I don't?" Dwalin took a menacing step forward, ax nearly nicking Luisons neck. "Well, what are we waiting for?" He laughed nervously. The man was hauled to his feet and pushed forward.
"Get moving," Thorin demanded. "No funny business or it's the last thing you'll do." Luison nodded quickly and some of the dwarves made for the ponies.
"It'll be easier on foot, draw less attention to ourselves," Balin stopped them. The grumbled but at Thorin's agreeing nod left the ponies. The walk wasn't pleasant with suspicious glares lighting my back on fire and Nori as my shadow. My only comfort was Bilbo who trusted me, knew that I wouldn't do anything like this. The path was so overgrown I kept tripping on tree roots and scraping my arms on errant tree branches. The slow-moving line came to an abrupt stop after three hours give or take an hour or two. We had stopped in front of some ruins. It seemed like this had been a small settlement. A crumbling stone wall stood around rotting buildings and a stone keep sat mostly unharmed in the center. There were campsites set up inside the walls where bandits and common thieves sat around fires. My first thought upon seeing it was. "Why can't anything be easy?!"
