Chapter six: Loyalty, honour, a willing heart
Sunlight filtered through the leaves and cascaded mesmerising shadows on the floor, dancing as the wind tickled each branch. Dahlia was watching her surroundings intently, making small sketches here and there of things that took her interest, including a few of the dwarves, and even one of Gandalf sleeping.
It had been a day since they started travelling, once they had reached the east farthing of the shire and crossed the Brandywine bridge, Dahlia no longer knew where she was. They were currently traveling through the Old forest road which connects to the quaint town of bree. Thorin insisted the Old forest road was quicker than the path through the southern-bree fields.
"I'm quite sure it's quicker if we head north and leave the forest and join the path to the fields before bree" Gandalf said sternly to a perplexed Thorin.
"But I insist these roads are safer without prying eyes" He retorted
"And whom would want to spy on you here? Farmers?" Snapped Gandalf sighing.
Bilbo sped up his pony slightly to the pair.
"It would er... actually, be quicker if we did leave the forest. Ah Master Oakensheild" Bilbo said stuttering "Otherwise we would have to climb the Barrow downs" He continued pointing to the map.
Thorin took the map and tilted it slightly and paused in thought. "You're quite right master burglar" He said thoughtfully "We change to north" He said moving the company.
After an hour of quiet mumbling amongst the dwarves and a few songs from the wizard, Dahlia asked "How long is it until we reach Bree?" She had never travelled this far before and didn't realise how far away Bree actually was.
"About 40 Miles from here now lass" Balin said chuckling at the girl.
"That's about three days if we make a little haste" Kili chuckled to her seeing her brow knit in confusion. "Ah" She replied relaxing a little.
She felt a little cold, Kili slowed his pony slightly and reached into one of the bags tied to the side of it. He reached out a blanket that was a deep navy blue and seemed a little tattered. Passing it to her and slightly wrapping it around himself too, she nodded thank you.
They fell into a small routine, as he tried to teach her how to handle the pony. She rode at the front and his arms stayed around her for safety, as she learnt to hold the handles and steer it. Bilbo informed her that the pony's name was Chestnut, like the colour of its fur. After a day or so of riding she finally was able to somewhat tame the horse and ride it herself without Kili's help.
"You're a natural lass, you'll soon be able to ride properly in no time" Bofur said watching her as she practiced whilst they were setting up camp for the night.
Dahlia hadn't quite gotten used to sleeping in the wilderness yet, she much preferred her duck feather filled mattress at home, a small shiver ran down her as she remembered the warmth of home.
Bombur was setting up a stew pot on top of the campfire they had made in the centre of the circle of sleeping bags. Kili and Fili went hunting for supper as the forest that ran along side the path to bree was plentiful of hares and rabbits. Which meant they didn't have to use their own supplies yet.
They returned an hour or so later with a small bag of game for Bombur to sort into the stew.
They made camp just off the road, slightly in the forest, not to be bothered by passers-by and travellers. Bilbo too missed home, Dahlia could see it in his face. She embraced him, and handed him a small snack.
"How are you faring Bilbo" She asked, picking a piece of branch out of his curls.
"I miss my armchair" He grumbled before smiling at her.
"I miss my reading nook" She lamented
"I miss my bed" He laughed.
They went back and forth about things they missed about Bagend as they were collecting sticks to top up the fire. Thorin was slightly listening in with a small smile on his lips.
"Hobbits are quite homely folk" Balin said walking up to Thorin, who was leaning against a tree watching the pair of hobbits, making sure they stay safe.
"Quite" He said watching the sunset bounce off of Dahlia's curls making them almost seem ginger in the light. "But Mister Baggins seems more like a grocer to me than a warrior" Thorin sighed
"We still have a few warriors amongst us, I know you're worried about the meeting with Dain. We will manage with who we have" Balin said trying to reassure Thorin.
"Old warriors" his eyes drifted towards Dwalin who was sharpening his sword with a wet stone.
"I will take each and every one of these dwarves over an army from the Iron Hills. For when I called upon them, they came. Loyalty, honour, a willing heart; I can ask no more than that" At that point Thorin didn't know he was in earshot of the little hobbits as he lost track of them and they scuttled past him.
They started to throw some of the branches onto the fire and get warm by it.
"You don't have to do this. You have a choice. You have done honourably by our people. You have built us a new life for us in the Blue Mountains, a life of peace and plenty. A life that is worth more than all the gold in Erebor." Balin pleaded with Thorin.
Thorin furrowed his brow and reached into his fur lined jacket and produced the small dwarven key and showed it to Balin.
"From my grandfather to my father, this has come to me. They dreamt of the day when the dwarves of Erebor would reclaim their homeland. There is no choice, Balin. Not for me." He said taking back the key and securing it safe back in the hidden pocket of his coat.
The white-haired dwarf sighed stroking his snowy beard "Then we are with you, laddie. We'll see it done."
After a hearty meal prepared by Bombur with the assistance of Dahlia they settled in early for the night after a few songs and tales.
Dahlia could feel the branches stick into every crack and crevice of her body, she tossed and turned all night, until falling into restless sleep, missing home.
