The sun woke me up, I sat up from my bedroll I had laid outside on top of Bilbo's home so I could sleep under the stars and away from judgemental dwarves. I stretched my arms to the skies and stood up, stretching my legs on the ground I smiled to myself, I knew we were leaving early so I grabbed my bag from the side and headed down to the stables after pulling some berries off a bush on the way to where my horse had been stabled, Gandalf told me he found me a horse. I walked through and saw there were a few ponies in the stable as well, must have been the dwarves. And I looked around two big horses, one must be for myself and the other for Gandalf. They were both beautiful horses, one was brown and the other was black with white socks and a stripe on the front of his head. I put my hand up as the horse reared,
"Shhh, I mean no harm." I spoke gently, not knowing that Gandalf and Thorin had just arrived to collect the other ponies. I stepped forward and placed my hand on the horse's neck and he calmed almost instantly, I felt his head move down and behind my back as I placed both of my hands either side of his neck, hugging the horse.
"You are beautiful." I stroked his soft mane,
"Ahh, you're awake." Gandalf spoke and walked forward,
"Oh. Gandalf, sorry, I was just admiring the horses." I spoke and saw Thorin in the background, I ignored him and looked to Gandalf as he stood beside me.
"Good, because this one is for you." Gandalf spoke, I nodded,
"Thank you." I smiled as Gandalf bowed his head slightly and walked back to Thorin as the other dwarves started arriving. I started to pack my horse making sure I got him out before the others.
I pulled myself upon the stallion as he walked outside,
"Are you sure that is a big enough horse for her Gandalf?" Balin joked,
"My lady has a talent for riding horses and many other animals. I've even seen her ride a wild bear." Gandalf spoke, this caused some of the dwarves to look at me in surprise,
"It was tamed from a cub. Its parent had been killed and I took him in as my own until I let him go. Haven't seen the bear for many years now." I spoke, I walked outside with my stallion and stoked the mane.
We headed to the edge of the Shire to wait for the dwarves,
"What shall I call you?" I whispered, the horse huffed and clopped his hooves on the floor as we stopped by an old tree. I looked at the tree and noticed it was an old oak.
"Oakley?" I spoke, the stallion bounced is head playfully as I laughed,
"Oakley it is," as I laughed, seconds later the dwarves caught up and I waited to ride alongside Gandalf on this journey as I don't think any of the dwarves will want to socialise with a woman.
"I am assuming Bilbo will not be joining us." I spoke, Gandalf looked at me as he blew his pipe and winked at me, I chuckled at him and looked away, Gandalf has all the faith in the world that Bilbo will be coming with us. And in fact. So, do I.
We headed off and what felt like half an hour to mine and Gandalf's delight we heard a familiar voice.
"Wait! Wait!" Bilbo's voice could be heard in the distance, I smiled as Gandalf looked at me with a proud smirk on his face, the dwarves and ourselves halted our ponies and horses as Bilbo managed to catch up to us.
"I signed it!" Bilbo waved the contract around and walked over to Balin who then looks over it.
"Everything appears to be in order. Welcome, Master Baggins, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield." Balin smiled at Bilbo who nodded, the dwarves and myself cheered as I was very happy to see Bilbo, I'm glad the hobbit picked up the courage to come along. I saw Thorin up ahead not looking too impressed though, I frowned a little bit at the dwarf for his negative outlook.
"Give him a pony." Thorin called to the men at the back,
"No, no, no, no, that-that won't be necessary, thank you, but I-I'm sure I can keep up on foot. I- I-I've done my fair share of walking holidays, you know. I even got as far as Frogmorton once-WAGH!" Bilbo was cut off from his protest as Fili and Kili both picked him up either side and dropped him on top of a pony. I found it quite funny as Bilbo looked incredibly uncomfortable.
"Come on, Nori, pay up. Go on." Oin called, Nori sighed and threw a bag of money towards his fellow dwarf, I ducked as another bag was thrown my way and the Ori behind me caught it. "Hey, hey, hey!" Oin cheered, other dwarves started laughing and joking to the losers as I shook my head.
"What's that about?" Bilbo asked, looking between me and Gandalf,
"Oh, they took wagers on whether or not you'd turn up. Most of them bet that you wouldn't." Gandalf answered as he waited patiently for his bag,
"What did you think?" Bilbo asked curiously,
"Hmmm." Gandalf looks towards Bilbo for a second but then jumps when he sees a bag fly towards him, Gandalf. chuckles and puts it in his pocket, "My dear fellow, I never doubted you for a second.". Gandalf smiled and Bilbo looked towards me,
"I don't gamble." I answered honestly, I don't see the point in such a ridiculous thing.
As we ride on I hear Bilbo sneeze loudly,
"Ohh. All this horsehair, I'm having a reaction." Bilbo spoke, he started searching his pockets as I look around to see what he is looking for, "No, no, wait, wait, stop! Stop! We have to turn around." Everyone stops after hearing Bilbo calling forward, I lean my head back and look to the sky, I sighed in disbelief, Bilbo was inexperienced.
"What on earth is the matter?" Gandalf asked,
"I forgot my handkerchief." Bilbo replied, I frown in disbelief,
"Handkerchief? Are you joking me?" I spoke, Bilbo looked towards me for a second until the sound of ripping could be heard.
"Here! Use this." Bofur called and chucked a piece of ripped cloth towards Bilbo who then looks at it in disgust, the rest of the dwarves start laughing and everyone carries on.
"Move on." Thorin yelled,
"You'll have to manage without pocket-handkerchiefs and a good many other things, Bilbo Baggins, before we reach our journey's end. You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire, but home is now behind you; the world is ahead." Gandalf explained as I nodded,
"You need to not worry about things like that. And by the way, if you need anything like that just let me know, don't go stopping the whole group." I smiled, "I'll look after you." I smiled at Bilbo as he nodded.
The first day was long and boring. I rode besides Gandalf and Bilbo as Balin moved back towards us,
"So lass, how did you manage to tame a bear?" Balin seemed very curious about this as I smiled,
"As I said, I found the cub by its dying mother, I fed it to gain its trust and the bear didn't leave me after that. I protected him, helped him grow, trained him how to find his own food, and even helped him to learn to find shelter. When he got old enough and big enough, I rode him." I smiled, Balin looked up at me as I looked ahead, "And then one day he left me. Figured he could survive on his own and left, like any child does when they get old enough." I spoke,
"Or any disobedient children who wants to prove they are strong enough and that they are ready to face the world." Gandalf looked at me, I frowned and then kicked my stallion to move forward a bit faster heading more towards Thorin at the front.
"I'm not a disobedient child..." I mutter.
The rest of the day we travelled through fields, more forests, and another vast area of land until we managed to find a place before nightfall at a cliff side where we could all rest. The horses and ponies were kept near the group as we all sat down to get things ready to eat and drink, I helped build a fire to start cooking.
I struggled to sleep that night, mainly because I wasn't used to travelling in such a large group. So, I sat with Gandalf as he looked over the horses and ponies, I heard someone get up and I saw Bilbo stretching his arms up in the air as he walked around camp and then headed over to the horses. And fed his pony an apple which made me smile. Oakley wasn't that far from me and Gandalf, staying near the camp.
Screams were heard in the distance and Bilbo stopped and looked between Fili and Kili as they sat by the fire,
"What was that?" Bilbo asked, I could tell he was scared,
"Orcs." Kili spoke, another scream sounded off in the distance as I saw Thorin wake up as Bilbo spoke again,
"Orcs?" Bilbo repeated, he did sound scared,
"Throat-cutters. There'll be dozens of them out there. The lowlands are crawling with them." Fili spoke seriously,
"They strike in the wee small hours, when everyone's asleep. Quick and quiet; no screams, just lots of blood." Kili added and looked off into the distance. Bilbo quickly turned around as I saw Fili and Kili laughing as they were winding Bilbo up. Thorin stood up angrily,
"You think that's funny? You think a night raid by orcs is a joke?" Thorin snapped at the brothers, I rolled my eyes, I hated orcs as much as the next person, but I knew they were young boys who were just trying to make a joke. That in Thorin's eyes was wrong to do so.
"We didn't mean anything by it." Kili apologised,
"No, you didn't. You know nothing of the world." Thorin stormed off and walked by myself and Gandalf to watch over the ponies, I shook my head and stood up walking over to the boys as Balin moves nearby as well,
"Don't mind him, laddie. Thorin has more cause than most to hate orcs. After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain, King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient dwarf kingdom of Moria. But our enemy had got there first." Balin explained, "Moria had been taken by legions of Orcs lead by the most vile of all their race: Azog, the Defiler. The giant Gundabad Orc had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin. He began by beheading the King." Balin explained, I sat beside Bilbo as he sat on the floor, I knew I heard of Thorin's name before... this is the same story I was told by the dwarf. I met a few years ago. "Thrain, Thorin's father, was driven mad by grief. He went missing, taken prisoner, or killed, we did not know. We were leaderless. Defeat and death were upon us." Balin looks towards Thorin and smiles as I look back and see his back to us. "That is when I saw him: a young dwarf prince facing down the Pale Orc." Balin looked incredibly proud of Thorin as he told his story. "He stood alone against this terrible foe, his armor rent…wielding nothing but an oaken branch as a shield" Balin continued as I continued to look back at Thorin, I noticed the other dwarves were slowly waiting up. "Azog, the Defiler, learned that day that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken." Balin looked between the four of us, "Our forces rallied and drove the orcs back. Our enemy had been defeated. But there was no feast, no song, that night, for our dead were beyond the count of grief. We few had survived." Balin looked towards Thorin once more as I looked back and saw all the dwarves had stood up and we're looking towards Thorin, "And I thought to myself then, there is one who I could follow. There is one I could call King."
My heart went out to the dwarves, to be in such a battle and live to tell the tale, I didn't know whether that seemed to be a good thing or a bad thing.
"But the pale orc? What happened to him?" Bilbo asked as Thorin started walking back to the group.
"He slunk back into the hole whence he came. That filth died of his wounds long ago." Thorin spoke harshly about the Orc, Azog. Thorin walked back to where he sat before, and the rest of the group went back to laying down on the ground trying to get enough rest before tomorrow's long day. I didn't turn away from Thorin though, I was deep in thought, thinking about the pain he has endured, he's got more experience with how harsh the world can be compared to myself... Thorin looked at me moments later, he didn't look at me with the hate that he had shown me before, but I think he knew that I was going to be more sympathetic towards him now.
I looked away and headed back to be in the company of Gandalf. I sat down besides the wizard and laid my head back against the wall,
"Why not a song to help us sleep?" Gandalf whispered to me, I turned my head towards the wizard and nodded.
"I pray you'll be our eyes,
And watch us where we go,
And help us to be wise,
In times when we don't know." My voice was soft as I looked up at the sky, this was a song that I knew from before... I knew this song was linked to my past, this and a few more.
"Let this be our prayer,
As we go our way,
Lead us to a place,
Guide us with your grace,
To a place where we'll be safe.
I pray we'll find your light,
And hold it in our hearts,
When stars go out each night,
Remind us where you are." I leaned my head forward to see Bilbo had moved to sit in front of me as I sang, he seemed relaxed. Some of the dwarves seemed to have fallen asleep listening to me as well.
"Let this be our prayer,
When shadows fill our day,
Lead us to a place,
Guide us with your grace,
Give us faith so we'll be safe.
We ask that life be kind,
And watch us from above,
We hope each soul will find,
Another soul to love." I looked around and saw Fili, Kili and Balin looking at me with a smile as I continued the song, I looked back to Gandalf who smiled at me and closed his eyes leaning his head back on the rock.
"Let this be our prayer,
Just like every child,
Needs to find a place,
Guide us with your grace,
Give us faith so we'll be safe.
Need to find a place,
Guide us with your grace,
Give us faith so we'll be safe." I finished my song and looked over and saw Thorin almost smiling at me, I turned my head away and decided it was time to sleep as I had made myself sleepy, I glanced at Bilbo and saw he had fallen asleep again which made me smile.
Tomorrow will be another day.
The next day we all started off quite early again, though the weather was not on our side as it had started to rain, and it kept raining... For hours... I didn't mind the rain in all honesty, only thing that bugged me about it was that the rain normally brought people's spirits down. I was quite fond of water.
"Here, Mr. Gandalf, can't you do something about this deluge?" DorI called,
"It is raining, Master Dwarf, and it will continue to rain until the rain is done. If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another wizard." Gandalf shouted back, me and Bilbo looked at each other curiously,
"Are there any?" Bilbo asked as I wanted to know also,
"What?" Gandalf looked back at us both,
"Other wizards?" I asked again,
"There are five of us. The greatest of our order is Saruman, the White. Then there are the two Blue Wizards; you know, I've quite forgotten their names." Gandalf explained, as I found it quite interesting,
"And who is the fifth?" Bilbo asked,
"Well, that would be Radagast, the Brown." Gandalf answered as I found it weird that they were all known by colours,
"Is he a great Wizard or is he...more like you?" Bilbo asked, I smirked to myself as Bilbo seemed to have offended Gandalf slightly,
"I think he's a very great wizard, in his own way. He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals to others. He keeps a watchful eye over the vast forest lands to the East, and a good thing too, for always Evil will look to find a foothold in this world." Gandalf explained, "A bit like how you look out for the people who travel in forests, don't you Raine?" Gandalf looked at me as I nodded,
"You are making me sound like some great person, she had tamed a bear, only rides stallions and cares for travellers in the woods." I spoke mimicking Gandalf slightly as he frowned at my behaviour, "I'm just a person who is trying to survive in this world, I help those I can, and I believe in the idea that if I do a good thing then more good things will come my way." I explained, Gandalf smiled at me, "The beauty of Raine, you always put others before yourself." Gandalf spoke, I shrugged, "I do what I can." I put my head down feeling slightly embarrassed that I was being praised so highly by my friend.
Later that day we travelled to what looked to be an old home that had been destroyed long ago. Gandalf had got off his horse and walked over to the building, I soon followed behind as he looked concerned. Gandalf stood inside as I stood in the doorway,
"We'll camp here for the night. Fili, Kili, look after the ponies. Make sure you stay with them." Thorin called as I looked back at the dwarves,
"A farmer and his family used to live here." Gandalf spoke,
"Used to?" I questioned and Gandalf looked at me with a serious expression which I did not like one bit.
"Oin, Gloin." Thorin spoke,
"Aye?" Gloin answered,
"Get a fire going." Thorin instructed,
"Right you are." Gloin replied as I heard footsteps behind me, I move forward. as Thorin walked by,
"I think it would be wiser to move on. We could make for the Hidden Valley." Gandalf spoke as he looked around and then towards Thorin, the Hidden Valley? That's where I grew up...
"I have told you already, I will not go near that place." Thorin objected as he walked through,
"Why not? The elves could help us. We could get food, rest, advice." Gandalf protested,
"I do not need their advice." Thorin was stubborn,
"We have a map that we cannot read. Lord Elrond could help us." Gandalf explained, I looked to the floor... Elrond... I haven't seen him for years...
"Help? A dragon attacks Erebor, what help came from the Elves? Orcs plunder Moria, desecrate our sacred halls, the Elves looked on and did nothing. You ask me to seek out the very people who betrayed my grandfather and betrayed my father." Thorin was not going to visit the elves by choice, I could see he hated them.
"You are neither of them. I did not give you that map and key for you to hold on to the past." Gandalf made a good point as I looked to the other dwarves,
"I did not know that they were yours to keep." Thorin snapped at Gandalf, I looked at him in disbelief, my jaw felt like it hit the floor in shock at Thorin's words.
Just then Gandalf quickly turned and walked away, Thorin looked at me as I shook my head and bit my lower lip,
"Dwarves..." I spoke,
"Pardon?" Thorin looked at me,
"You're so ridiculously stubborn. You cannot look from the past and move on can you?" I confronted Thorin as Gandalf got on his horse and rode off. "You need to learn to forgive people, everyone makes mistakes. The strongest of us learn how to forgive others and move on. It shows that you are not petty." I snapped,
"Are you calling me petty?" Thorin stood in front of me,
"Maybe." I glared at him, myself and Thorin stood glaring at each other for a moment, but then his eyes broke away and looked down to my lips, he suddenly looked back up as I stepped back.
"Why do you hate me?" I asked, Thorin looked at me in surprise as I looked at him seriously, "Ever since we met you have judged me and decided that I am a weak person when you barely even known me." I explained, "I listened to Balin's story last night and I understand your hatred towards orcs and elves. But for you to treat me so harshly from the start is not fair. Not on myself or Bilbo." I stood strong, looking between Thorin's eyes I sighed and looked to the floor. "Anyway, I doubt you'll listen to anything I have to say, but I'm going to leave the group, I'll come back tomorrow morning before the sunrises to continue our journey. I've had enough of being around people today." I sighed, "I should be used to feeling like an outcast." I muttered as I walked away from Thorin. I walked between the group and over to my horse.
"Raine, where are you going?" Bilbo asked,
"To clear my head. I won't be gone long. Be back tomorrow morning." I smiled at Bilbo as I jumped on top of my horse and rode off into the distance.
I had found a peaceful area by a river to rest in, I jumped in the water to clean myself off, Oakley was standing near the waters edge watching me. Oakley seemed protective of me, he never left my side since we started on this quest, staying as near to me as possible. Oakley made me feel a lot better with him being there, to have a companion watch over me.
I finished cleaning myself off and as I got dressed I heard a horse galloping towards me, Gandalf was on his horse, he stopped. Besides me as I pulled my boots back on,
"What are you doing away rom the group?" Gandalf asked,
"Same as you, I had enough of dwarves..." I spoke and looked up at him, "why do they not like me?" I asked Gandalf, he looked down at me and sighed,
"Why do people fear what they do not understand?" Gandalf asked, I frowned in confusion but then thought about the question. "They do like you, they just do not know how to approach you." Gandalf explained as I stayed seated on the rock, "They just need a bit of time to learn to trust you. It's like any relationship, you build them up and one day they will become a mighty castle." Gandalf looked down at me, "Let me keep you company," Gandalf got off his horse and sat on the rock next to me.
"Why did you bring me on this journey?" I asked, Gandalf looked at me as my eyes were fixated on the ground, I didn't want to look at him. I just wanted an honest answer,
"You are destined to go on this quest. And during this quest, you will meet someone, who shares a similar story. That person will then join you, and you shall learn more about your past when we get to Erebor." Gandalf explained, "Anything else that happens in between now and our destination is by luck." Gandalf smiled, I looked up at him.
"Will I learn about these?" I pointed at my bracelets and necklace, Gandalf looked away for a moment,
"I have been told not to give you too much information, as I am hoping we can get to see Lord Elrond, he is the one tasked with telling you about your past." Gandalf answered, I put my head in my hands,
"I ran away though, he probably hates me." I spoke,
"Everyone that you have ever met has come to care about you, Raine. Your aura is charming and kind, animals and people feel relaxed and at ease when they are with you, you have an incredibly kind heart." Gandalf explained, "More kind then most humans," he added as I sighed,
"I don't belong to this land do I?" I asked, this land always felt evil and dark, made me doubt myself.
"You are from a land that is hidden from this world. A land full of kind people like you." Gandalf answered.
Nightfall came quickly and Gandalf let me sleep for a few hours until he woke me up urgently, without explanation he got me on our horses and we rode back to the farm, everyone was gone. No Thorin, Bilbo, Bofur, Bombour... They were all gone...
"Gandalf... Where is everyone?" I asked,
"I fear it may be trolls." Gandalf replied, I gasped and ran forward into the trees with Gandalf, we could hear noises and see a smoke coming from a camp. I looked back and could see the sun was rising behind us.