The company began to set up the camp, as Eleanor took a look around the camp sniffing for the scent she had found upon arrival. Eleanor wasn't a expert in tracking but she could at least tell that the scent she came across was about a couple of hours old, so if they were lucky whatever it was had long gone but she didn't doubt it was still around and that terrified her. Eleanor walks over to the ruined house, sighing sadly at the smell of death, to her guess a farmer and his family died not to long ago; by the looks of things Gandalf thought the same.
"Fili, Kili, look after the ponies. Make sure you stay with them" Thorin ordered his nephews, the two young dwarves nodded their head obeying their uncles orders. Thorin turns to the rest of his company "Oin and Gloin get a fire started and Bombur get dinner going"
Eleanor watches Thorin walks up to Gandalf; by the looks of his face Gandalf isn't too happy "A farmer and his family used to live here" Gandalf uttered to himself as Thorin approaches him "I think it would be wiser to move on" Gandalf suggests to the king, but looking at Thorin, he could tell that Thorin was going to disagree with what he had to say "We could make for the Hidden Valley" Gandalf causally brought up the house of Elrond.
Thorin narrowed his eyes at the grey wizard, his anger spiked at his words. How could the wizard even think about voicing this suggestion? He questions himself "I have told you already, I will not go near that place" Thorin hissed at the wizard and walks passed him but pauses a moment to look back at him.
"Why not" Gandalf argued back, he really did hate the stubborn trait that dwarves seem to be raised to have "The Elves could help us" He says narrowing his eyes at the dwarf in front of him. Gandalf patients were running out, how does Thorin hope to achieve this quest or anything for that matter if he refuses help from everyone but dwarves "We could get food, rest and get advice" Gandalf listed the positives to Thorin from visiting the Hidden Valley.
However, Thorin wasn't having any of it "I do not need their advice" Thorin barked back.
Gandalf kept on trying to persuade the dwarf "We have a map that we can not read" He pauses a moment, taking a breath "Lord Elrond could help us" He says in a calm manner. Gandalf stares at Thorin and saw the hatred for the Elves in his eyes, it was then Gandalf knew that Thorin was not going change his mind, unless we stumble there by accident or as a last resort.
"Help?" Thorin questioned angrily at the wizard "A dragon attack Erebor. What help came from the Elves" He spat out, taking a breath before he continued to rant "Ocrs plunder Moria, desecrate our sacred halls. The Elves looked on and did nothing" Thorin comes face to face with the wizard "And you ask me to seek out the very people who betrayed my grandfather. Who betrayed my father" Thorin finished his rant.
"You are neither of them" Gandalf points out, finally losing his patient the wizard snaps at Thorin "I did not give you that map and key for you to hold onto the past" Gandalf has had enough, he needed to get away from the company before he completely loses it, who knows what he would do if he stays with that stupid stubborn dwarf.
"I did not know that they were yours to keep" Thorin snaps back with a huff, Eleanor was sat meters away from the pair her eyes moved back and forth watching the argument play out. Eleanor could tell that the dwarf King had really gotten under Gandalf skin, just moments later after Thorin had spoke Gandalf storms passed the company in a huff, he couldn't believe the stubbornness of that dwarf, he needed to cool down.
"Everything alright? Gandalf, where are you going?" Bilbo asked the wizard as he passed by the hobbit.
"Too seek company of the only one around here who's got any sense" Gandalf snapped.
"Who's that?" Bilbo curiously asked.
"Myself" He shouts back "I've had enough of dwarves for one day" Eleanor shots Thorin a glare as Gandalf appeared out of view.
The camp was silent, everyone was unsure on what to do next "Come on, Bombur we're hungry" Thorin mumbles, glaring in the direction Gandalf had left. The company began to move about but pause in action at the sound of Gandalf voice.
"ELEANOR" He called out, Eleanor ear twitch at the sound of her name. What could he possible want with her at this minute, he was meant to be calming down "ELEANOR" He shouted once more. The company look towards the cat in confusion apart from Balin and Bilbo, shyly looks away from them and headed for the wizard.
Bilbo quickly rushes over to his sister to stop her, but with one look from Eleanor he let her go "I'm sure she will alright laddie" Balin says approaching the hobbit.
Bilbo lets out a sign "I know" He grumbles out and the pair move away to help out around the camp. The only one that wasn't helping was Dwalin, the warrior was confused as to why the wizard would want the cat but at the same time Dwalin was worried about her. Dwalin left out a huff, gabbing his weapons he began to clean and sharpen them but every so often his gaze would go back to the wood, in hopes for Eleanor to return back to him.
Eleanor rushed after the wizard with a scowl on her face "Gandalf" She called out as she tried to pick up his scent but all she was getting was that the scent from before.
Gandalf calming stared forward as he heard the shifter "Here" He called out, Eleanor followed the voice to the side of her, she pushed through the the bushes to see Gandalf seated on a rock.
Eleanor shifts back, she narrows her eyes and crosses her arms, her posture clearly showing she was annoyed "You can't just leave them, something it wrong. I can smell it" She explains to the wizard.
Gandalf turns his gaze to see Eleanor had shifted into her human form "Trolls" He causally tells the lass.
Eleanor's eyes widen in shock, fear filled her body "Tr- Trolls" She stuttered out, her thoughts turn to her brother and her mate "We need to go back" She tells him, the company could be in trouble by now.
"All in due time my dear" Gandalf replied taking a puff of his pipe.
Eleanor raise an eyebrow in curiosity "Why?" She questioned "Why are you waiting?"
"Maybe this will knock Thorin's pride down just a bit" Gandalf looks to her with a small smile "Also it may give Bilbo the chance to prove his worth to the dwarves"
Eleanor could not believe what the wizard was saying right now, sure Thorin had angered him but that didn't mean he had to leave them in danger. Also the comment he said about Bilbo made her worry, how is a small hobbit who doesn't know how to fight, defend himself against trolls. It going to prove nothing but my brother been a burden to the company. Eleanor shook her head "This is risky" She stated.
Gandalf just hummed in response. Eleanor sniffed the air once more; it was only then did she realise the sent was strong and was mixed with dwarf and hobbit. Her eyes widen and she nervously bite her lip, was it time to go now?
"Now Gandalf" Eleanor sternly say to him, knowing that they had to move.
"Quite right Eleanor" Gandalf stood up and together the pair rushed back to the empty camp "Shift dear for a stronger sent" Eleanor thought of her wolf form knowing she would pick it up better in this form, bones began to crack, fur replaced her skin before she perfectly landed on all fours. Eleanor turned her nose up to the air then to the ground. She growled to Gandalf as she found the direction the scent was leading and took off. Finding the source of the scent Eleanor pauses at the sight in front of her, the dwarves were split up some were in sacks And the other where been literally roasted on the fire; as for Bilbo he was stood up facing the trolls dead on.
Eleanor felt pride wash over her at seeing her brother stalling the trolls "Well done Bilbo" Eleanor whispers earning a nod from Gandalf.
"Proving his worth" Gandalf commented whist looking at the situation in front of them "Alright Eleanor, you change back into a cat and I'll go save this lot" The wizard tells her.
Eleanor shakes her head "I can help" She tells him "I can distract them"
"My dear the trolls are already distracted" Gandalf tells her, pointing at Bilbo.
Eleanor sighs and bows her head "I just want to help" She mutters softly, Gandalf places his hand on her head, giving the young shifter a stroke "I want to prove my worth" She lifts her head to look at Gandalf "I want them to see the real me"
Gandalf looks at the girl softly, he knew when he asked her to join that she would have a hard time staying in one form. Not only that she had found her mate within the company, it must hurt not been able to show her real self to him "Your time will come dear" Eleanor nods and shift back into her cat form "Go back to the camp and i will get someone to get you" He tells her before walking off.
Eleanor heads back to the camp grumbling to herself, It wasn't long before she heard her name been called "ELEANOR" She rolled her eyes as she realised it was Thorin's nephews, she stretches her limbs before running over to the pair "There you are" Fili and Kili says coming up to her. The blonde haired dwarf picked up the cat "Gandalf told us to accompany you back to the group" Kili says with a wide smile. Eleanor gave then a look, was the young dwarf expecting an answer from her.
"She's a cat Kili, she's not going to answer you" Fili says to his brother rolling his eyes at him playfully. The trio arrived back to the company to see half of them missing, Eleanor looked around the group for her brother and mate but they weren't in sight. She let out a meow and jump from Fili's arms, the blonde dwarf saw the cat looking around for the hobbit "The rest of the company are checking out the cave the trolls stayed in Eleanor" Fili replied without a though, he pauses a moment wondering why he told a cat where everyone was, it's not like she can understand.
Eleanor left out a huff, seeing the look on his face, he like the rest of them thought she was a stupid animal, she couldn't wait to shift to human form. Eleanor began looking at her surrounding "Oh, it stinks" She commented out loud, making the Durin boys look at her in shock.
"Did she ju-" Fili starts to say but was interrupted by the others coming back.
The pair kept their gaze upon the cat as she ran over to her brother and jumped into his arms, nuzzling her head in his chest "I'm so glad your ok" She licks his cheek, making Bilbo smile loving at his sister "You had me worried"
"Sorry" Bilbo sheepishly replies.
Not far away the Durin lads watch the interaction "Is she definitely talking to him?" Kili questions his brother, the pair weren't too sure if the cat had spoken at all. "Maybe we head our heads during the trolls incident" Kili says, it could be the only solution to the whole situation.
Fili nods his head agreeing with his younger brother "Maybe we did"
Eleanor's attention is taken from her brother as a new smell reached her nose, she climbs out of her brothers arms. Her ears twitched as she heard a noise, Eleanor spun around and looked in the direction she had heard the sound and let out a hiss.
The companies eyes fell upon her, Gandalf moved towards Eleanor "What is it?" He questioned, Eleanor hissed once again in the direction the noise was coming from. Eleanor let out a meow and huffed in annoyance knowing she couldn't just tell him vocally.
"I think she is trying to tell us something is coming" Bilbo pipes up, he walks to Eleanor and picks her up. She lets out at purr, telling him he is right even if he doesn't understand.
"You sure?" Thorin asked earning a glare from Eleanor.
Wasting no time Gandalf jumped into action "Stick together! Hurry now. Arm yourselves" Gandalf yelled as the company rushed about to ready themselves, the company huddled together and waited for the threat to show themselves.