A/N: We march on to the forest. We follow the extended version of events.
No beta, feel free to apply.
Bilbo was sad. His sorrow would overpower him but they had to march on and he did, he persisted as he did for months now since he met the dwarves. The road was so long he forgot how it feels like just to sit still. But he made a promise and Thorin needed to get to his mountain. But did he really need Bilbo to succeed.
As they faced the Greenwood Bilbo fell into doubt.
"This forest feels… sick" he said feeling reluctance to go in.
He took his ring thinking of how it would be easy just to put it on and disappear. None of them would even know where did he went and how. He would just find his way back home, plant his acorn… which would eternally remind him of his cowardice and betrayal.
Then Gandalf took his idea and just turned away from the forest.
"You're not leaving us?" Bilbo felt like crying, Gandalf wasn't a great wizard but he was like a shield, assurance they will find their way.
"You're not the same hobbit that left the Shire" said Gandalf to him and he felt the urge to confide in him, to tell him everything that troubles his heart.
"I was going to tell you…" about Thorin but that was private, what would he do about that. "I found something in the Goblin tunnels" the ring lied hard on his heart like forbidden secret.
"Found what?" Gandalf looked at him with suspicion and Bilbo envisioned how would this went down. There was not time for explaining, Gandalf would just take it with him and leave Bilbo without any shield whatsoever. "What did you find?"
"My courage" he said determinant to finish this. He let go of his ring, that wasn't an option, to run away and hide on some desolated place like Gollum was hiding in his cave.
"Good" said the wizard satisfied but ended in his well-known mystery. "Well, that's good. You'll need it."
And with few more warnings he was off leaving them to deal with the forest on their own.
As they ventured in Bilbo kept himself on the back of the company. Thorin led the way determinant not looking back. He still didn't look at Bilbo not once since it happen. Since Bilbo… but it was useless to think of it. In here it looked like a dream. Everything looked like a dream in here. Soon they found the stone bridge but it was broken. Bilbo stared at the enchanted water.
"It doesn't look enchanting to me" said Bofur and Bilbo had to agree. Staring at it murky water made Bilbo dizzy. It seemed like his reflection is mocking him.
"We send lightest ones first" Thorin's voice cut through his daze.
Bilbo lifted his gaze just to see all of them staring at him, Thorin too. Of course now he looked at him when they needed to cross over the stream on the vines. Bilbo treaded his steps carefully but even he slipped. And as he slipped he was faced with his reflection. It was his face in the water but it was distorted somehow. He looked devious, indifferent, and spiteful. It was like all the versions of him are inside, and none of them was good in anyway. But he was a good hobbit. He shook his head and managed to get to the hard ground. He shook his head but it didn't want to clear.
"Something is wrong" he was too dazed "don't cross over…" but they have already started to climb the vines not waiting for his sign.
Soon Thorin jumped right beside him but he stared in the forest. Bilbo turned and there he was, the deer. The white deer they ran from. He looked enchanting, like a creature from another world. Bilbo wondered why would anyone hunt him but then he noticed how Thorin's bow is thigtening.
"What are you doing?" Bilbo's mouth were too slow. Thorin sent out his arrow, but it missed its mark like the deer was far away. Bilbo never saw Thorin aim so poorly.
"You shouldn't have done that" said Bilbo looking at the place the deer used to be. "That's back luck" now they all could end up in a dream wandering until they die.
"Luck!" Thorin said with disdain. "I don't believe in luck. We make our own!"
Just in that moment Bombur fell into the enchanted water and Bilbo thought how that looks like bad luck. That made most of the dwarves touch the enchanted water just as Gandalf instructed them not to. Only instruction he made they broke. Bilbo didn't touch it but as they continued to wander he wasn't sure he wasn't affected just by looking at its mirror image.
"There" Thorin said suddenly and everyone followed him.
Bilbo tried to warn them to stay on the path but no one listened. He looked at the path dismayed but he didn't want to stay alone so he ventured after them. Of course they were lost, walking in circles.
"We're going east" Thorin was convinced in his vision but Bilbo knew they can't find their way without the sun.
That made him remember he can climb trees, up there, he'll think clearer up there. He climb up the tree and soon was out on the clear air. His mind cleared instantly and he could see the lake and the Lonely Moutain in the distance. They weren't far at all. He felt happiness among red treetops and blue butterflies. They'll be alright. He shouted down but dwarves couldn't be heard anymore, no commotion or arguing. That made Bilbo worried. Dwarves were always bickering about something.
Bilbo is struggling lets see how's Thorin doing. Leave a review.