A wizard. A crazy brown wizard. Bella wished that she could bash her head against a tree. She had just about had it today, and it wasn't even time for elevensies yet. She wasn't entirely sure what she had expected to explode from the brush, but it certainly hadn't been a team of eight to ten giant rabbits pulling a sled with the most ragtag wizard she had ever seen. His grey-brown beard was stringy and matted, one side of his face was plastered with she didn't-want-to-know-what, and upon his head sat a brown version of Bofur's hat.

She was willing to ignore some of it as just some eccentrics. But then a stick insect had come crawling out of his mouth. She had turned around and returned to the ponies after that. Maybe with a decent night's sleep, she could have handled it. But nope. No sleep, worry for her brother and a baker's dozen of dwarves, creating part of the diversion that ultimately led to the demise of the trolls. Not to mention the wild cart ride that this unexpected relationship was taking her on. She was done.

Ori and Bifur stared at her when she stomped into the clearing where they were watching the ponies. "Miss Bella, are you alright?" Ori asked.

"No! I am not alright!" she answered. "I had the most stressful night of my life with no chance to rest afterward. I am still damp and miserable from this past week of rain. My brother was thrown into harm's way. I'm tired, achy, and just had to watch the most disgusting wizard in my life pull an insect out of his mouth!" She plopped down, curling into a ball, heaving for breaths.

A moment later, a tentative hand touched her shoulder. She looked up to see Ori gently smiling. "Here, see if this might help a bit," he said. "It won't fix anything, but it may help."

She sighed as she accepted the mug he held out. "Thank you," she murmured. She took a sip before drinking it all down. The ale stung a little, but it did ease her nerves a bit. Releasing another sigh, she said, "I'm sorry. I just wasn't expecting adventuring to be like this I guess."

"You are also traveling surrounded by male dwarves instead of just with your brother," Ori said. "I'm sure that's not helping much. Some of us had actually wagered that you wouldn't last a week without snapping or giving up. We've been traveling for nearly a month, and you've only just snapped now."

She lightly snorted. "And I am not about to give up. I am both a Took and a Baggins, and a Baggins doesn't go back on their word."

"And a Took?" Ori asked.

"Won't let a rough spot stop them," she answered. "Although, I would give just about anything for a hot bath and a soft bed for at least one night."

Ori chuckled. "I'm a dwarf and I'd dare to say that sounds rather fine about now."

Bella slowly smiled. "How are the ponies doing?"

"Very well, all things considered," Ori answered.

She stood and joined the two dwarves with their four-footed traveling companions. As she double-checked each pony, she felt herself relax a little. Not enough that everything was fine, but at least enough that she wouldn't explode again.

"Miss Bella," Ori said, "Bifur and me won't tell on ya."

"Thank you," Bella said. She jumped as she heard a deep-throated howl. "Was that a wolf?" she asked.

The ponies shrieked, rearing and trying to run. "No, no, easy," she said. "Easy. We'll keep you safe. Sh, easy." Finally they weren't trying to bolt.

Bifur grunted, signing frantically.

"Wargs," Ori translated. "Possibly scouts, which would mean an orc pack."

Bella's heart shot into her throat. "Ori, take yours and your brothers' ponies and get them down there. Bifur, yours and your cousins'. I'll take the rest. We need to get out of here."

The three of them scrambled down with the ponies. Bella was horrified to see two giant wolf-like beasts laying slain among the Company.

"What in Durin's name is going on?" Thorin demanded of Gandalf.

"You're being hunted," Gandalf said.

"We have to get out of here," Dwalin said.

"Right you are," Bella said. "Come grab your pony."

"Bella managed to keep them from bolting," Ori added as the dwarves started upward to claim ponies.

"But if these orcs are as fierce as the stories make them out to be," she said, "it may not be enough."

"And we should have a clear destination, or we may find ourselves running the remaining way to the Lonely Mountain," Bilbo said, pulling out a map.

"What's the closest stronghold?" Fili asked.

"Rivendell," Bilbo answered after a moment. "It is perhaps a day's journey if we ride hard. There is nothing else forward, and we certainly can't turn back seeing as how the last settlement we were even remotely close to is at least a week's ride no matter how hard we travel."

"Thorin?" Gandalf addressed.

Thorin sighed. "I suspect that you would have gotten us there one way or another." Raising his voice, he cried, "We ride to Rivendell!"

"I'll draw them off," the brown wizard, Radagast was it? said.

"These are Gundabad wargs," Gandalf countered. "They'll outrun you."

"These are Rhosgobel Rabbits," Radagast said, indicating his unusual sled beasts. A daring, almost crazy look passed over his face. "I'd like to see them try."

Bella considered this new wizard again. Maybe he wasn't so bad a chap after all.

"Everyone mount up," Thorin called. "Await Gandalf's signal."

Bella tried to scramble atop her pony. "Oh! Why do you have to be so high?" Usually she and Bilbo could locate a rock or tree stump to give them a boost. She looked around frantically as she heard more wargs. "Ah!"

Fili had grabbed her around the waist and was now swinging her atop her pony just before he swung onto his own. He grasped her forearm as he leaned close. "Stay close to me," he said.

She nodded, turning to see that Kili had done much the same with Bilbo.

"I'll stick with him," Kili promised.

"Come on," Fili said, urging them to follow the others that were already starting to trot out.

Bella stayed along beside him as they ventured through and out of the forest. They didn't stop until they were just beyond the tree-line and behind a boulder. She distantly heard the brown wizard shouting, even laughing, as wargs roared and howled nearby.

Gandalf watched around the edge of the boulder. "Come on." With that they all started across the hills and plains at a gallop.

Bella tried to stay calm as she held onto the reins and did everything she could to stay in the saddle. Of course, they'd run into trouble. Didn't all the old hobbits say that dwarves were nothing but trouble? They all slid to a halt, nearly throwing Bella over her pony's ears. Radagast and the wargs were passing just in front of them.

"Stay together," Gandalf said, as he wheeled his horse around in a new direction.

"Move," Thorin called.

They were off again. But this time, as they raced for their lives, an insane idea crossed Bella's mind. An idea unwelcome only because of the timing. She turned to see her brother beside her. "Bilbo," she said catching his attention. "We could be making history here. One day, children may be told of how Thorin Oakenshield and his Company raced across these fields to reach the safety of Rivendell."

"I just hope they can conclude that particular chapter with all members arriving safely," Bilbo replied. But a half-smile had made it onto his face.

The Company slid to a stop again as the wizard and wargs passed ahead of them. "Ori, no!" Thorin's cry carried all the way back to them.

"What happened?" Bella asked frantic.

"The lad just overshot the cover," Gloin answered. "He's fine."

Bella released a breath of relief. Then they were moving again. This possibly lasted for an hour or so as they played an unrelenting game of cat and mouse. For each zig Radagast made, they had to zag. The ponies, miraculously, took the unintended abuse in stride, only snorting or stamping in protest to the quick turns and unrelenting pace.

After a time, Thorin and Gandalf brought them under a slight overhang that revealed a shallow cave. "We can't push the ponies much harder without a few minutes break," Thorin said as they all gathered in.

Bella half-fell from her pony as everyone dismounted. She pulled a bowl from her pack and filled it with her waterskin. "Here you are, good girl," she said to her pony, allowing her to quench her thirst. "You've been doing well today. Keep it up and you could very well be resting in the best stables outside the Shire come nightfall."

"That would be a blessing," Fili said quietly, watering his own pony. He gently stroked the creature's neck and face. "These poor things will certainly have earned it today."

"Hush," Gandalf's voice carried above all the low voices, bringing silence.

A harsh, rough noise was above them. A warg.

Dwalin chanced a look outside. He slipped back in, signing to Thorin.

Thorin turned to Kili and signed to him.

Kili nodded then stepped to Bella, touching her arm. He made a couple rough signs to her.

Bella hadn't had much chance to learn Iglishmek yet, but she recognized the signs Kili had given her. "Rider." Which meant that there was an orc riding the warg outside. "Arrow." Kili had been ordered to shoot it. She nodded, unsure why Kili was telling her this.

Kili then pointed to himself, made the same two signs again, and tapped his forefinger between his eyes. He was going to shoot the rider, seemingly between the eyes. He then pointed to Bella signed knife, paused before patting her pony's forehead. Oh, he wanted her to use one of her throwing knives to take out the warg.

She nodded, pulling out her longest and sharpest throwing knives, showing them for approval.

Kili examined them briefly before nodding and beckoning her to follow him.

On the edge of cover, Bella crouched down beside him. She dared to peek over the lip of the overhang. The warg and orc were still there, surveying outward. She dropped back, forcing her breaths to remain steady. She looked to Kili for his plan of attack.

He pointed to himself a couple times, then pointed to her. He repeated a couple times, ensuring she got it.

She nodded. He would shoot first, and then she would do her work. She just prayed to Eru that it would work.

He withdrew an arrow, notching it to his bowstring. Then he turned again to her. "One," he mouthed.

"Two," she mouthed back.

"Three." He shot out, whirled round and released his arrow.

Bella was only a step behind him. She barely hesitated before she sent her first knife flying into the warg's forehead. Almost immediately, she followed through with the second to its throat, just as a second of Kili's arrows struck the orc in the neck.

The only sound their quarries made was their bodies hitting the stone and earth as they fell.

"Well done," Kili murmured, patting her shoulder as he went over to the two monsters. He retrieved his arrows, examining them before keeping one and tossing the other into a bush.

Bella hesitantly approached to reclaim her knives. But when she saw the orc's angry, hateful, staring eyes, she scrambled back, clapping a hand over her mouth to keep from retching. What had she done? She was fully aware that these beasts were monsters and among the most hated races in Middle Earth, but . . . she had never before stolen life. Yes, she had come close several times. But she had never actually . . .

A pair of strong arms wrapped around her, half-carrying her back inside. She heard voices, but didn't care to discern what they were saying. She vaguely saw Thorin sneer at her as Bilbo stood opposite him. She barely made out her brother's angry yet quiet voice as she was passed off to familiar arms and a long, wiry beard.

"Breathe, child, breathe," a grandfatherly voice ordered in her ear.

She drew a shaky breath, relieved that her stomach didn't revolt against her again. "Gandalf?" she whispered. "I never want to steal life again." She allowed herself to sink into the wizard's sheltering arms as she silently shuddered. But she refused to let any tears come. Monsters didn't deserve tears.

"She has no place on a battlefield." His uncle's words rang in his head. He ground his teeth together. Only Bilbo's reply had stayed any rash actions.

"She has never before killed someone. She is used to injuring in self-defense. This is the first time she has played a part in killing a sentient being. You can't tell me that any one of you in this Company didn't have some reaction to your first kill."

Fili glanced back to Gandalf. Almost as soon as Fili had gotten hold of her to bring her back into the relative safety of the overhang, the wizard had beckoned him to bring Bella over to him. He now held her, nearly hid her beneath his wide sleeves and sweeping hat.

"Fili."

He turned to his brother and the slight bundle that Kili held out.

"I got the worst of the blood off," Kili said quietly. He glanced over at Bella. "I suspect that as little of it there is the better."

Fili nodded, taking the wrapped knives. "I'll clean them before returning them," he said, tucking them into his pack.

"Pay up," Balin said, nudging his younger brother.

"What?" Dwalin asked.

"You said the lass would throw up when she made her first kill, and she didn't," Balin said.

Dwalin grumbled but handed the money over.

Fili noticed money passing between Nori and Bofur. "If she'd scream in the face of danger," Nori explained.

"Double it," Fili said. "She faced trolls as well as orcs and wargs without screaming." The dwarven prince sighed. His amralime, his gornil. Yes, she appears to be breaking, but only after so much she had been forced through within twenty-four hours.

"We need to start moving again shortly," Thorin said. "We can't risk getting caught."

Gandalf scowled, though his expression softened when he returned his gaze to Bella. "Are you going to be alright?"

"Yes, Gandalf," she said, barely a tremor in her voice. "Maybe I just need some distraction for a bit."

The wizard nodded. "We'll be moving out again shortly. Stay close to Fili."

She nodded. "I will." She released a long breath. "I think I'm good to stand now." She settled on her feet, wobbled a moment but immediately walked to her pony.

Gandalf met Fili's gaze before indicating that the dwarf step forward. Once Fili was standing beside him, Gandalf said, "It may be best that she ride with you. If it comes down to a confrontation, I'm not sure how she'll react on her own." He squeezed Fili's shoulder. "If nothing else, be there to support her."

Fili nodded. "I'll stay with her," he promised. He immediately went to her side. He hesitated before lightly squeezing her shoulder. "Everything's going to be alright," he said.

"Don't talk," she murmured. "I don't need words right now."

"Then what do you need?" Fili asked. "I want to help."

She took a deep breath. "Can I just borrow some strength?"

"Always," he said. The word barely left his mouth before Bella had turned around and wrapped her arms around his torso. He returned her hug, holding her tight. There would be time later for him to tell her that she was among the strongest women he knew. When he would tell her that she was amazing as she fearlessly joined his brother in potentially saving them from the orcs by their actions. Later he would heap praises upon her head for being possibly one of the bravest and most remarkable hobbits in history. But for now, he just held her as she trusted him as a friend close enough and understanding enough to be a rock in these new, uncertain waters.

Author's Note: Bella just is not having a good day. There's only so much a gentlehobbit can take even if she is mostly Took. At least they are all safe for the moment. Once everyone has caught their second wind for the day, they'll be continuing the race for Rivendell. One can at least hope that the orcs won't cause any more trouble.

I figured that since Bilbo and Bella had been planning before to travel to Rivendell, and Bilbo made sure that he was prepared, that Bilbo would have been able to help chart a proper course for their escape from the wargs and orcs instead of the Company just running blindly. Or two rascally wizards corralling them to the elvish city like we see in the movie.

Fili is starting to adopt Sindarin at least in relation to Bella. Gornil translates to "Valiant One." How do you think Fili handled the situation here?

Was there a favorite bit in here? Something that made you laugh? Roll your eyes? Thankfully for the Company, nothing to make someone mutter/pray "save me from the stubbornness of dwarves." :-) Any and all reviews are appreciated. And if you decide to review, be sure to check your inbox because I do my best to answer each review. Until next time.