Disclaimer: I own Eva, nothing else. Not making money, please don't sue….

Warnings: Not for this chapter

AN: This chapter was a bit more difficult for me to write, I don't like the choppiness of it, but I hope that you enjoy it.

.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.

Chapter 6 - Departure

It was still dark outside when Eva woke from sleep. Her body was accustomed to waking early for the sake of her children. Even after two years, it was a difficult habit to break. The house was filled with snores, so she decided that this would be the perfect time to get herself ready for the day.

Pulling on the travel clothes that Bilbo had 'loaned' her (well, he did say to help herself), she tip-toed quietly out of her room and down the hall, the moon still shining through one of the windows. Letting her eyes adjust, she lit a candle from the embers of the fire and looked around the sitting room. Thankfully, it was empty.

Knowing that she was likely to be left behind, she went back into her borrowed room and fished her bright orange pack out from the wardrobe. She had been using Bilbo's things the previous night, so technically, she did not have to pack up. Hoisting it carefully onto her shoulder, she lugged it as quietly as she could through the corridor and placed it at the front door. That task done, she got onto the next one.

Breakfast!

From her repeated readings of Tolkien, she knew well that the appetite of dwarves was legendary, and this had been confirmed by the sheer amount of food that the Company had gone through the previous evening. Winding her way through the smial and occasionally cursing the many corridors, she located a second pantry which held things that were far less perishable. Gathering a basket located near the pantry entrance, she lifted out several things that she thought would do well on the long journey ahead, as well as a few ingredients for a solid breakfast.

Stumbling her way back to the kitchen, she lit some more candles, heated some solid metal pans and put on a pot of tea, as well as retrieving bread loaves and slicing them carefully. A large pot of butter left from the previous night was put with it as well as honey and several fruit jams that she had lifted from her trip to the pantry. As she sliced the sausages and bacon, she hummed. Soon the smell of a cooked breakfast wafted through the house.

Dwalin and Balin had been woken by the smell of cooking bacon and sausage. Blearily, they followed their noses as they dragged on their clothes. As they approached the kitchen, the voice of a warm, rich female alto caught their attention. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Balin approached the door and blinked in surprise at the sight that greeted them.

The woman from last night was working the hob of the very full stove, plates stacked neatly on the middle counter as she sliced more bread. Balin's stomach growled as he caught sight of the bacon in the pan closest to the door. She hadn't noticed that anyone was there, and was in the process of dancing (quite strangely too, Balin observed) around the middle counter in her travel attire. Balin jolted as Dwalin walked into him, and the elder dwarf shushed his groaning brother.

Her black braid lifted gently to and fro as she glided around the kitchen, leaving a trail of red and gold in her wake. Dwalin's brow crinkled as he studied her, curious.

The melody was completely foreign to the dwarves, but it was clear that the woman knew it well. There was a wistful, almost lost look in her eye as she spun gently around the room. Balin wondered what the look was for, as he recognised it as one that he had seen on Thorin when remembering his brother, Frerin.

Grabbing one of the pans, she emptied the contents of it onto one of the clean plates, jumping slightly as she noticed the dwarves at the door.

"Good morning." She greeted softly "Breakfast?"

"Aye, lass. That'd be wonderful." Balin replied "Let me take that out for you."

Eva stuck her head out of the kitchen after Balin "Should I wake the others?"

"Nay, lass." Balin said with a smile "You just watch. The smell of food will draw them out like bees to honey."

Eva hummed quietly "Fair enough, then."

She jolted slightly as she felt the other plate in her hand be lifted from her grasp and as she looked up, she saw Dwalin's gruff counternance nod a silent thanks to her as he disappeared down the hallway.

Balin was proved right as the dwarves trickled out from their borrowed rooms, following their noses to breakfast. Fili and Kili had groaned as they plodded to breakfast, complaining about the fact that they were 'up before the sparrows'. Eva laughed heartily, causing the brothers to flinch yet again.

"That'll show you not to down so much ale in one night!" Oin chortled.

Kili groaned, then turned his attention to Eva "Oh, Sweet Lady! Save us from these bullies!" Kili moaned dramatically.

Eva snorted derisively "The only thing you need saving from, little Prince, is your ego!"

There was complete silence for a split second before the entire table burst out laughing. Even Gandalf and Thorin gave small smiles.

"I like you!" Bofur exclaimed "This journey'll be a lo' more entertaining, at the very least!"

"I should remind you," Eva began pointedly "I am Gandalf's companion. I haven't signed any contract"

That seemed to unexpectedly sober the hatted dwarf "But yer still comin'?"

"'Course I am! Can't let you have all the fun!" Eva began, before her light tone dropped in an instant. She took hold of a ladle that served soup the previous night and whipped around to wrap Nori sharply over his fingers.

"OI!" he yelped, followed by the clattering of objects onto the floor.

"Nori!" Dori hissed.

"Put them back." Eva warned

Nori blinked "How in Mahal's name did you know I nicked 'em?"

"I didn't," Eva replied smugly "but thanks for telling me." Nori's eyes widened again.

Dori yanked his brother aside by the ear, hissing angrily at him in Khuzdul. Dwalin pinched the bridge of his nose and Thorin sighed.

"At least our things are likely to be safer." Bofur quipped as he bit into another sausage.

"Alright." Thorin said as he rose "We need to leave within the hour. Pack up and clean up. We need provisions."

Before Eva left Bilbo's beautiful smial with reluctance, she put out a plate of breakfast, the contract and two of Bilbo's clean handkerchiefs with a secret smile.

.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.

Gandalf was waiting outside Bilbo's home with a smile on his face, a full pack as well as her own bright orange one already attached to the pony whose reins were secured in one of his aging hands. Eva blinked.

"Umm… Gandalf?" Eva began nervously.

Gandalf glanced from Eva to the pony that he held the reins of and back again "I take it you do not know how to ride." he stated.

"More or less, yeah…."

Behind her, she heard Thorin sigh yet again. Mumbles of 'useless woman' echoed between the elder dwarrow.

"'Ere now, lass." came Nori's voice "Would ye like a hand?"

"Gladly." Eva replied "Last time I tried to get on one of these things I managed to get kicked in the shoulder. Bloody temperamental thing."

Nori lifted her by the waist and placed her unceremoniously on her saddle. She landed with an 'oof' and a frown. Grabbing the reins, she shuffled a bit so that she could sit well on the pony.

"Squeeze or kick its sides to go, pull firmly right or left to steer and pull the reins up to stop." Nori lectured. Eva sighed

"Easy as pie." she mumbled. Her pony gave a small start as Thorin's voice echoed from the front of the line.

"Move out!" he called.

Dwalin and Thorin were mounted side-by-side at the front of the group. Turning their ponies in unison, the rising sun backlighted them in glorious golden hues. Though it was extremely cliché, both dwarrow radiated raw and refined male power. Strength and confidence hummed around them. Eva smiled, drawing similarities of her current reality and the book's description of the two of them. It seemed fitting.

Eva settled towards the back of the line with Gandalf, enjoying the quiet of the morning and the gentle sounds of her pony's hooves on the track. Considering all she really had to do was to follow the line, Eva distracted herself by looking around the green hills of the Shire.

Liam and the boys would have loved this…..

There was a peace surrounding the hills that Eva envied the hobbits for. Their blessing came in the form of being sheltered from many of the evils of the world. This was a place where happiness and abundance thrived. Gardens in front of every home that they saw, young faunts running everywhere with their laughter filling the air.

For the most part, the dwarves left Eva to her own devices, likely at the pressing of their Leader. She was quietly humming when the voice of one of the dwarves caught her attention.

"It's awfully quiet down 'ere." Bofur began

Eva looked at the hatted dwarf with a smile "I take it that you're going to change that, Master Bofur?"

"Just Bofur, lass." he replied "The lads up the front don't think that our burglar will come, whereas Kili seems to think he will." A smirk was growing on his face "What says you?"

Eva considered Bofur "What's in it for me? Are you betting on this?"

Bofur's brow rose "Sneaky lass, aren't ya?" he quipped "I tell ya wha'. I'll split ma winnings with ya if ya'll give me yer considered opinion."

She looked Bofur in the eye for a long moment, then said to him with a certainty that surprised him "Bilbo will come. Just before lunch, I believe."

Bofur paused, then yelled over his shoulder "Double my bet, boys! The burglar will come!"

Murmurs were heard from the front "Alright, Bofur!" came the call of one of the princes. Eva was too far away to hear which one it would have been "Yours has been doubled!"

"I hope yer righ', lass." Bofur said quietly.

A spark in Eva's eye caught his attention and made him swallow "Don't you worry, Bofur." she replied, her voice low and smooth "I'm meant to be a Shield, right? I'll show that khazad I'm no useless woman."

.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.

Eva didn't really take notice of the passing of time until murmurs started up at the front that drew her attention, the sun high in the sky by this point.

"Give it up, Bofur!" called Nori "He's not gonna show!"

"Yes he will!" Bofur replied. He turned to Eva deliberately, bringing the collective gaze of the Company with him "Won't he, Lass?"

Eva smirked but said nothing, her gaze simply looking behind her patiently.

One heartbeat….. Two heartbeats…..

"Wait! WAIT!" came a familiar voice from behind them.

BIlbo came running into view, the contract in one hand and his travel pack on his shoulder. His footsteps slowed as he neared Balin.

"I signed it!" he said, panting

Balin checked it, running his wizened eye down the document "Everything appears to be in order. Welcome, Master Baggins, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield."

Thorin grunted quietly, then raised his voice "Give him a pony!"

Bilbo suddenly looked terrified "No, no, no, no. That…that won't be necessary. Thank you. I'm sure I can keep up on foot. Yeah, I…I've done my fair share of walking holidays, you know? Even got as far as Frog Morton once- AHH!"

Nori and Bofur had seized Bilbo by the upper arms and hoisted him unceremoniously onto the back of the spare pony. Eva gave her pony a gentle squeeze to ride up beside him. Bilbo was tense as he gripped the reins with white knuckles.

"Come on, Nori!" Oin called "Pay up!"

"Mine too!" Bofur called out.

Grumbles were heard up and down the line as bags of coins were tossed in different directions. Bofur caught his, counted out half and handed it over to Eva.

"Lovely doin' business with ya, lass!" he said with his trademark smile.

"Welcome, Bofur!" Eva replied cheerily, much to the dismay of the dwarves up the line.

"What's that about?" Bilbo queried

Gandalf favoured the hobbit with a small smile "Oh, they took wagers on whether or not you'd turn up. Most of them bet that you wouldn't."

"And what did you think?"

Gandalf smiled as he caught a small pouch of coin that Nori threw, an annoyed look on the dwarf's face. "My dear fellow, I never doubted you for a second."

Bilbo sneezed, scrunching his nose up before he brought out a handkerchief from his pocket with a quiet moan. Eva gave him a sympathetic look as he whined about the horse hair giving him allergies, but not before quietly thanking her for placing them alongside the contract.

As the day wore on, Eva realised two things about Bilbo: the first was that he did indeed eat seven meals a day, all with their appropriate capital letters and each as important as the next. The second….

The second was that he loved stories.

The moment he found out that Eva had absolutely no clue about Middle Earth and its history (a small lie, but one that Eva was willing to tell to get him to stop moaning), Bilbo quite literally did not stop for the entire afternoon. He went seamlessly from one story to the next. Eva listened to him patiently as he told tale after tale at the back of the line, quietly though, so nobody really caught them. When Bilbo finally stopped, he did so with a smile on his face.

"What about you, Miss Eva?" Bilbo began "Are there many stories from where you come from?"

Eva smiled "There are lots of stories from where I'm from. I had many books in my-"

"Books?" came Ori's voice "You can read?"

He slowed his pony down so that Bilbo and Eva caught up with her. Eva looked at Ori with confusion "What do you mean 'you can read?'"

Ori began to stutter "I did not mean any-"

"Master Ori," Eva began softly, "I am simply curious as to why you would say such a thing. I'm not upset." she paused, letting the words sink in for the young dwarf "You seem surprised that I can read."

"I am… a little," Ori began, nervousness clear in his answer "Usually only the very wealthy or the very talented are afforded the education to be able to read."

Eva regarded the young dwarf with curiosity "Where I'm from, being able to read is a basic right. If you can't read, you can't survive." Eva paused "I take great joy in the books that I have in my home. Many of them are fiction, but a good portion are about natural history and other things too. When you learn how to read, you can unlock worlds." she finished in an almost dream-like tone.

Ori was busily scribbling down her words in one of his large journals. "Will you tell us a story when we stop?" he asked once he was finished, his bright and eager curiosity plain across his face.

Eva regarded the dwarf with an indulgent smile "I would love to, Master Ori."

.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.

Edited as of 18/1/2022