Chapter 7: Two Heads are Better than One

They have officially left the Shire and it is not until now that Edyth finally is able to relax once more. It is done. She has left with the Dwarves. There's no turning back now. Well, there was no turning back since she signed her name on the contract the previous night, but she doubts Thorin would have objected to her change of heart. He is probably still counting on her to freak out and turn around and run back to the Shire with her tail between her legs.

It is a beautiful day, a few white clouds in the sky but nothing to threaten rain in this April month. Their ponies travel naturally into a line, a few deciding to double up in order to talk to one another. Edyth watches from the near end of the trail pack as they talk avidly. She still doesn't know all of their names yet but those she does are already occupied with other people leaving her to keep to herself.

As the day wears on, she does somehow make it to Gandalf's side, or rather, his legs. Mounted on a full-sized horse, Edyth is surprised that he is in the middle of the herd and not at the front with the long strides of the stallion.

"I do hope indeed that your brother is aware of you whereabouts," Gandalf muses.

Edyth adjusts the reins in her hands which she has rested on her thighs, having little need to navigate what the beast does naturally. "As long as he goes down to his study," she answers cautiously, knowing it not wise to lie to the Wizard. Gandalf grunts his displeasure. "I tried to tell him last night," she adds in her own grumble. "But do you really think he would have allowed me to leave? He downright fainted at the idea of a dragon."

"I think you underestimate your own will," is all Gandalf replies. Edyth peers up at him through her lashes with a questioning gaze but Gandalf keeps his head set forward. "And do try to get along with Thorin, my dear. I'd rather not spend my days peeling you to apart."

Edyth's mouth drops open partially. "You will not have to," she snaps, feeling her pride slightly tainted. Pulled apart like pups? "I will be decent as long as he is as well." Jutting her chin forward, she looks over the front half of the trail to leer at their leader who is on top of a shaggy brown-haired pony. "Arrogant is what he is."

"A Dwarf," Gandalf corrects. Edyth turns her head up to meet his eyes. They stare at each other for a moment with flat faces until they both break into quiet laughter.

"A Dwarf indeed," she agrees, now bearing a large smile. "But it seems not all are like that. His nephews seem nice enough. Well, Fili does have this strut about him but he's more sociable. And I think I'll try and talk with Bofur. And Ori and Dori."

"I think you would get along finely with those, but do not keep to yourself this entire quest."

"I won't. And speaking of; how exactly do you plan on translating those runes on the map? I don't know anybody older and wiser than you."

"There are many wiser than me, my dear, for age has nothing to do with wisdom," Gandalf breaths. "Though I must say the person I am intending on consulting is on the older side."

Edyth frowns in contemplation. Is he talking about an Elf or are there others who are both old and knowledgeable to read something even the Grey Wizard cannot?

"Leave me to worry about that all," Gandalf adds. "Why don't you try and socialise and get to know some people."

Edyth opens her mouth to answer that she would rather talk with him but Gandalf has already nudged his mount into a trot, heading towards to front of the trail, leaving her behind to breath in the dust that the hooves kick up.

She ducks her head slightly but keeps her eyes set forward, once again, out of place. Readjusting her seat, she frowns, feeling slightly tipped to the left. Edyth looks down at herself, but the saddle horn is lined up along the middle of the pony's back. Her feet are uneven. She pushes down on the right side, but there is still a greater bend in her right knee then her left.

"Having trouble there?"

A pony and its rider come up along each side of her, making the three the widest part of the trail. Kili appears on her right, his brother on her left. She nods, still scowling at the saddle. "My feet are uneven. I don't…." Her mouth rounds along with a long blink. "Oh. Nevermind, I'm just an idiot."

"What is it?" Fili questions. "Did someone not do your saddle up properly?"

"No, no." Edyth sighs through an airy laugh. "Well, yes, but it is my own fault. Balin told me to shorten the stirrups but it seems I only remembered to do one side." The brothers snort at her misfortune. "Don't laugh," she huffs through her own smile. "It's going to annoy me until we stop now." And they aren't stopping for many hours yet.

"You can fix that now," Kili advises.

Edyth blanches slightly, shaking her head. "Oh no. This is my first time riding. I barely feel comfortable with my feet where they are right now."

"Come on," he goads. "It's easy. You just have to take your foot out and tighten the strap." Edyth continues shaking her head. She's settled right where she is thank you very much. It is an annoyance, yes, but still secure. "I'll do it for you then."

"No, no, it's fine," she gulps. "I like my feet where they are."

Albeit her protests, Kili rides closer to her side, Edyth swaps her eyes to Fili, pleading with him to support her. "You're not going to fall," he exhales. "I'll stop you if you do begin to tip."

She isn't given the chance to reply as a firm hand grips her calf, removing it from the stirrup. Kili is leaning right down out of his saddle – which sets her own stomach through a tumbling barrel. He moves her leg forward and over the front of the saddle to lift the flap which covers the straps.

Edyth's muscles stiffen, the only comfort being that is she is going to fall, at least the pony is relatively close to the ground. Kili fiddles with her straps, guessing against her leg length what the other side is set at. Just as she begins to once again feel somewhat comfortable, Ginger's front hoof slides on a rock.

Embarrassingly, a small yelp escapes her lips, and her hands drop the reins in order to search for something more solid. Ginger rights himself straight away, barely bothered by the slip. She turns her head to Fili where one of her hands has tried to reach for. A least his is true to his promise to help. One of his own hands is half risen but it lowers upon seeing her still in the saddle. She drops her own, taking a long and shuddered draw of air. Looking to her other side, Kili is still lent over, unfazed as well. Even more humiliating, the back of his leather coat is scrunched under her fingers.

Slowly, she releases it, praying that he hadn't felt anything since the heat in her cheeks is enough to leave a heat burn already. Her fingers instead become occupied with the reins, keeping them tucked between her legs and the horn of the saddle.

"There," Kili announces, leaning back up. Without hesitation, she moves her leg back where it is supposed to be. "Feel even now?"

Edyth nods without even trying to feel for any difference, not wanting to go through that experience again but as she does, there is the relief that they are indeed even. "Thank you," she manages to string out. "That's the second time you've scared me today. I'd rather you not make a habit of that."

"And both times I've helped you," the prince counters with a smirk.

"Without my request for it," she drawls back. Setting her jaw strong, she turns her head to the front. "But thank you, nevertheless." They fall silent for a minute but Edyth knows she cannot let this opportunity go. A chance to have someone, or two someones to talk to on the ride. "Is Thorin your uncle on your mother or father's side?"

"Our mother's," Fili answers with a smile. "Our mother, Dis, is Thorin's sister."

"And did you live in Erebor? Before the dragon?"

At that, the brothers laugh softly to themselves, and she wonders what on earth she said that is so hilarious. "Ah no," Kili chortles. "Erebor fell long before we were even born."

"But it only fell one hundred and fifty years ago," she frowns. "Surely you are older than that."

"Not quite," Fili answers. "I'm eighty-two and Kee's seventy-seven."

"Oh," she chirps. For some reason, she just placed them as much, much older than herself. "So you were born in the Blue Mountains then?"

"We were. And how old is our resident burglar?" Fili squints are her before changing his glance to his brother over her shoulder. "Hobbits live to about a hundred, don't they?"

"From what I've heard," Kili answers, making it quite obvious that it was intended for her. "Judging by the grey hairs I would have to guess Miss Edyth is in her nineties."

Edyth gapes at him, not sure whether to be amused but the mirthful glint in his eyes tells her that is words are only teasing. "Nineties?" Fili gapes. "We'll hear her bones creaking before we even reach the mountain."

"I do not have grey hairs!"

Edyth's eyes roll at their mischief-making as they visibly enjoy the teasing they've put her through. The smile stays on her cheeks, her heart feeling as though she is already beginning to find her place within the company.

But her small paradise is broken by a gut-wrenching familiar voice.

"Wait! Stop!"

Thorin pulls his pony to a halt, effectively stopping the entire company whose heads are turned over their shoulder to the voice crying in the distance.

"Bilbo?" she whispers.

Running towards them with his red coat and travelling pack is her brother. This is the most unexpected change of events. Just last night he was outright refusing. Did he know she is here? Has he come to take her back? No. He has his pack; he's intending on joining.

Her brother slows down in front of them, hunched slightly as he attempts to regain his breath. Had he run all the way from the Shire?

"I want to sign it!" he exclaims.

Gandalf rides forward, both with a frown and a smile; an odd look. "Bilbo Baggins. We did not think you would join us."

Bilbo tilts his head, disbelieving his owns actions. "I can't let my sister do this alone," he declares, shaking his head. Edyth's stomach drops as Bilbo's eyes connect with hers. It is now her fault that he's had to leave his home. "She's only thirty-four. I can't stop her from coming, but I can come along as well."

"We have our fourteen members," Thorin drawls. "Return home Master Baggins. The contract has been signed."

Bilbo marches forward with a rare determination in his eyes. "Then let me sign it as well. I don't care for the fourteenth of the treasure if that's what you're concerned about!"

Thorin leers at her brother for a long moment before letting his gaze drift back up to her, raising his eyebrow. Balin shifts forward in his saddle. "Two heads are always better than one," the older Dwarf advises. Thorin spares him a quick glance but his eyes return to her. "It is your choice, Miss Baggins. The contract is under your name after all."

Edyth's eyes flicker between her brother and the company's leader, utterly lost at what to answer. Does she want her brother on a possibly life-threatening quest? Of course not. But he is doing what she has, just for different reasons. Bilbo isn't dragging her off her pony and back to the Shire, so she should allow him the same freedom. Making that decision, she nods to Thorin.

"Hand him her contract," he orders to Balin. Balin does so and Bilbo gives a tiny smile, walking towards the older Dwarf's pony. Pulling out a quill, Balin hands Bilbo her already signed contract.

"Just there," Balin guides, pointing to the space next to her own signature. "You will both count as one member."

Thorin glares at the Grey Wizard, shifting his pony back around to face the front. "And if one of you happens to die, we'll have a spare," he growls. Edyth glares at the back of his head, swallowing any remarks that flood to her throat. "Give him a pony!"