Still no beta so you'll have to excuse my language. I'm pressing on chasing this story.

Thorin was surprised when Hobbit's voice caught up with them. What was he doing here? Thorin looked around just to see his open, proud and cheerful face. That explained it. Master Baggins didn't know the peril that were ahead, but he'll learn soon enough.

"Give him a pony" he shouted. That way he'll keep up.

Of course there were seat back because of him. He thought they all can turn back so easily just for his accessories. But Thorin decided he will not be bothered by their new burglar. He focused himself straight ahead. His path was before him.

He ignored the Hobbit as much as he could, but there he was with his chattering voice asking questions, telling stories. Thorin thought about their quest.

One night he was just leaned against the rock not listening to those around him, resting his eyes when he heard the hated word Orc. He got up just to find Fili and Kili messing around because of the Hobbit. Thorin lashed out on them, they had a courtesy to look ashamed.

As he walked away the story began, the one Fili and Kili haven't heard yet. The ugly one. The story in which he come by his name. He hated that name because of that day, but that hate drove him further to fight the insane and desperate parts of himself.

Balin told it like it was, with simple words and without embellishment. Dwarf's stories didn't need to get pretty, truth was that this was a cold and unforgiving world, dead stay dead no matter how you cry.

That's why Thorin doesn't cry. Even as he listens and images haunt him vivid and close like he's still there surrounded by a pile of bodies. He looks at the distance with a steady stare challenging the distance to confront him. He'll fight to his last breath and even then he will not apologize. He had every right to hate the world and most of those who occupied it.

As the story ended with Balin pledge of allegiance to a king without his kingdom Thorin turned around knowing they are watching and they needed of him to be strong. His strength was only thing that kept them together.

"What of the pale orc?" Hobbit again asked a question too many, question that would lead to doubt and insecurity so Thorin cut him down with the thing he told to himself many time over. The pale Orc had to be dead, what was the point of that battle if he wasn't?

They've pressed on, days were changing between riding and sleeping. Dwarves were chattering, Hobbit asked his questions, Gandalf pushed his own ideas. Thorin had fight him. Maybe he needed a help of a wizard but he sure didn't need a help from elves.

When Gandalf left in anger Thorin felt some amount of piece giving out his orders. Things were better this way, when he had only his men to look out for. Of course Hobbit was still there with his questions and lack of trust.

Soon even his voice got lost in the murmur of his men talking in low voice, eating the food, teasing Bombur. Thorin thought he could sleep now when Fili stormed into camp with news of trolls.

Thorin jumped up.

"Don't worry our burglar is on the job, he'll steal them back" he said with confidence and Thorin growled and rushed to save that little fool.

When they arrived Kili and the Hobbit were on the ground he rushed into the caotic battle. Trolls may be stupid and slow but they were big and strong to compensate they weakness. But Thorin didn't think they could lose, each and one of his men was ready for the fight to the end but then that Hobbit got himself caught.

Thorin watched him in frustration. Why couldn't he just flee the battlefield like any civilian would do? Thorin was tempted to just charge on and let the fate decide will Mister Baggins lose any limb but he stared right at Thorin with his big terrified eyes and Thorin couldn't bring himself to charge. He would if any of his men were in that position. Dwarves had strong limbs and none of them would plead him nothing but to charge on. Thorin threw his sword with anger breaking the contact with those pale terrified eyes. Why had he come when he was so afraid to die?

Afterwards he laid down all striped into a bag like a grocery surrounded by his men. Some were already on the fire and Thorin knew he had made a wrong decision. He should have left that little creature to die, he said he would when they started, he had no debt towards that strange man.

As that wasn't enough Mister Baggins had a courtesy to get up and talk to the trolls like they were normal beings. It was most disconcerting when they talked to each other discussing the seasoning like they were mindless meat.

Thorin was enraged at that little fellow but as he started to speak about parasites and enraged his men Thorin could see on his easy readable face despair with them. Thorin finally got where he was going, he was fighting with words, and trolls were weak there, so he hit his stupid men when they argued him. Good punch was always enough for thick dwarves heads to understand so they supported Hobbit's attempts. Attempts that would fail miserably if there wasn't for Gandalf who was over with his anger.

Later on Gandalf contradicted him on the subject of Hobbit's blame for their defeat. Thorin didn't argued with him because he wasn't willing to explain himself and discouraging effect Hobbit's scared eyes had on him. He said that he won't be responsible for his fate and he won't. It was too close to losing from mere mountain trolls.

But he was out of his mountain and other creatures were around them. He have to use all the help he can get. That's why he kept the elfish blade. It may come in handy and it was better made than those men did.

Like trouble heard he had a new blade there was that other wizard with disturbing news which were followed by a pack of Wargs. How did Orcs find them was the mystery, but then again his head had a bounty on it. As they ran despair and anger caught up with him and he knew he had lost the control over the situation.

Of course old wizard managed to turn even that unexpected situation into his favour and led them straight to Rivendel.

Thorin cringed inside when he saw their intact white halls full of light and peace. Wizard guaranteed to Thorin his loyalty and Thorin went inside griping his blade, whishing he was outside fighting Wargs and Orcs, he was better at that than staying on the good side of the elves.

Reviews would be welcomed.