A/N: So off the road and into the wild and uncharted.
The road became less maintained as they progressed into the wild. Thorin kept his eyes on his dwarves, Hobbit and a wizard. They were tired and now they knew Orcs are behind them. They traveled in silence always on the lookout. In the nights they guarded with more care. Thorin barely slept waking at the slightest sound. Suddenly he heard everything, he distinguished steps of his dwarves and of a wizard but only one he couldn't hear was the Hobbit. Master Baggins moved around seemingly without a sound. At least not that Thorin could hear. He understood now how he could move around goblin kingdom without being heard.
He deemed himself foolish for not using that kind of abilities before and started to send Hobbit out to lookout alone, without anyone cramping beside him with noisy feet. He always returned safe and sound and with some information. That made traveling a lot easier.
Thorin noted that little Hobbit looked less scared now when he had more dangerous tasks. Maybe he wasn't so unlike rest of them, maybe he needed sense of purpose and skill to get confident.
But Thorin was troubled for sending little Hobbit out there alone so when they heard Wargs howling from the east he went with him. Maybe he was quiet but he didn't really wield his dagger really dangerously. Thinking of Master Baggins shielded only with that silly dagger standing between him and giant Warg made Thorin smile unnoticeably. That was so daring moment, so brave stand, but so scary because he was so small. But because they both survived it became precious moment for Thorin, the one that showed him that bravery, kindness and loyalty aren't gone from this world.
Because of it Master Baggins became valuable to Thorin. He was vital for their moral while Orcs chased them. It would be staggering if they lost him after such peril that they escaped by mere miracle.
That's why he accompanied him to the look out. Killi and Filli tried to follow but he ushered them to stay.
"We would be too noisy stomping around like pack of wolves" he turned at them and they stayed.
Master Baggins and Thorin walked and Thorin inwardly cursed his clumsy feet that seemed unable to stay quiet.
"Maybe" Master Baggins stopped looking angry and apologetic at the same time "if you could remove your boots."
"My boots?" Thorin was confused, his boots were the best kind, resistant and reliable.
"Yes because all of the noise" Master Baggins whispered.
"They aren's that noisy" Thorin murmured but removed his boots.
The ground was cold, branches dug into his skin but he moved with less sound and they proceeded.
"You could have left them behind, we would find them on our way back" Master Baggins was annoyed by his clumsy walk because his boots made him unable to remove branches on time causing them to scratch his face.
"We would never find them in these woods" Thorin argued under breath "and I'm not traveling on barefooted."
Master Baggins murmured something to himself but soon froze. He gestured up the tree and Thorin helped him up. Soon he was high out of sight. Thorin couldn't hear or see anything and that made him nervous. He had the urge to call up for Master Baggins but that was too risky so he waited keeping the eye on his surroundings.
That's how he didn't hear Master Baggins until his feet wiggled in front of his face. He was too slow and Hobbit has already started falling so he jumped underneath him and caught him before he crashed to the ground, which would surely cause allot of noise.
Thorin held Master Baggins in his arm trying to mimicry ask are there Orcs on that side. Master Baggins didn't respond with words, which said to Thorin that they aren't alone, he just tried to wiggle out to the ground but Thorin had his boots in his hands. It was impossible to put Hobbit on the ground without dropping them on the ground. Deciding that it would be too much noise in putting Hobbit down, so he turned back to their company carrying Master Baggins in his arms. Hobbit struggled but Thorin threw mean glance at him so he stopped all that wiggling.
"You can put me down now" Master Baggins whispered angrily when they made some distance between them and Orcs.
"No" answered Thorin courtly. He wasn't willing to risk it, Orcs were too close, and Hobbit wasn't heavy to carry.
"We're far enough" Master Baggins started again this time a bit louder starting to wiggle again.
"This is not a good spot" said Thorin examining their surroundings, there were too many bushes and dark places to feel comfortable.
Finally he found a broad tree and leaned on it feeling the strain in running through the forest.
"How many and how far?" he asked not putting the Hobbit down.
He darted his eyes in every direction ready to run, Hobbit is too slow on his own.
"Put me down already!" Master Baggins was now angry. "The whole pack of them but there is a gorge between us."
"You could said that at the start" Thorin said coldly and dropped Hobbit on the ground starting to put on his boots. His feet ached.
"I would if you let me" Hobbit dabbed his clothes. "The gorge is narrow, they would hear us on that spot, and maybe they would even be able to jump over. As I can see their path leads towards east, we're be safe for a while. Map shows that our paths join in the plains."
"That's a good news" Thorin clasped his hand on Master Baggins shoulder suddenly happy for the short time of security.
"I guess" Master Baggins said frowning "if they don't decide to jump over because you made so much noise running."
Thorin almost laughed but stopped himself taking his dignity back up. Hobbit made him forget himself sometimes.
"Others will want to know the news" he said and hurried forward feeling less aware of the noise he's making in the passing. But he still turned around from time to time to check is Master Baggins still following him.
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