Hello my friends! I just updated this chapter. I would like to thank those who follow my story and those who have made it a favorite and the reviewers. It means a lot to me! :-) And of course thank you to those who have read, are reading and will read my fanfic. I own nothing!

Chapter 3

Bilbo finally caught up to the company. He was very excited for this quest, but he didn't particularly show it.

"I signed it!" He was now jogging to Balin to give him the contract. "I signed it." He handed Balin the contract. Balin took out his spectacle just to make sure that Bilbo signed it. He rolled up the contract and then said,

"It appears everything is in order. Welcome Mr. Baggins to the company of Thorin Oakenshield."

"Give him a pony." Thorin commanded.

"Oh no that's alright. I am perfectly capable of walking." Fili and Kili picked Bilbo up by his arms and set him on a pony.

'You don't seem very thrilled that we now have a burglar." Jaille said to Thorin.

"I think he should not come. I am only sparing him from his fate."

"Sparing him from his fate!?" Jaille couldn't help but laugh. "Thorin you could possibly come to your fate on this journey to. Anyone of us could die." Thorin said nothing back. "Or is the reason you don't want him to come is because you would rather have me as your burglar?"

"You! You think I'd rather have you? I do not want you here at all. You are worse! I think the hobbit will serve a better purpose then you Jaille Pearson!"

"Are you still upset about what happened all those years ago?" Thorin just glared at Jaille then he looked away. "I'll take that as a yes."

"He still hasn't gotten over it?" Balin asked her. They were now riding side by side.

"I wish he would let me tell the full story, but he won't listen."

"In time he'll come to realize the truth."

"Balin it has been five years. I think it's been long enough."

Bilbo noticed that some of the Dwarves were throwing pouches of money to each other.

"What's that all about?" Bilbo asked Gandalf.

"Oh they took wages to see whether you would show up or not."

"And what did you think?" Bilbo didn't really want to know the answer to his question. Then one of the money pouches came towards them and Gandalf caught it!

"My dear Bilbo, I never doubted you for a second." Gandalf said. He gave a smile to Bilbo.

"Nor did I Bilbo. For I have learned to trust Gandalf with his decisions." Jaille stated loud enough so Thorin would hear her. Thorin just ignored Jaille, for her knew she would be much upset for not getting a reaction. "For Gandalf is always right. Well most of the time." She mumbled the last part. Fili turned around and gave a dumb founded look to Jaille.

"Really Jaille? Can you just stop?" Fili said crossly. Now Fili had the same opinion as his uncle Thorin. They both did not want Jaille to come with them. Kili on the other hand was a different story.

Jaille said nothing back to Fili. She didn't speak for quite sometime. For when she did Thorin and Jaille would start to bicker. Fili would always get upset with Jaille, and going on and on about how it's her fault. When honestly most of the time it was Thorin.

"Look Thorin I would like to apologize for my behavior earlier today. I don't want us to fight this whole trip. Can we please try to see eye to eye?" They were both sitting at the edge of a small cliff. If they had fallen down they would only get minor injuries. Thorin was lost in thought. He saw a reason for her to apologize but then at times he didn't. He still had ever so much guilt about what happened when he first met Jaille. Thorin stood up and then started waling back towards the camp. "You can't ignore me forever Thorin." Jaille got up and followed him.

"What were you two up to?" Fili questioned Thorin and Jaille.

"Just having a conversation." Thorin replied.

"The last time I checked at least more than one person needs to talk for a conversation to be held." Jaille went to sit by the fire and think about the recent events.

Then out of nowhere they heard a high pitch screech. Bilbo face turned pale, and you could see the fear in his eyes.

"What was that?" Bilbo asked. Thorin had been resting his eyes and jerked upwards when he heard the screech. Then they heard another one.

"Orcs." Kili said. He looked over at Fili and they both smiled at each other. Jaille knew what they were up to. She looked over at them and mouthed no.

"There's dozen of them out there in the low lands." Fili added.

"They attack at night. Quick and quiet, and they make no noises, but always lots of blood." Kili said.

"You always hear the terrifying screams of adults and children," before Fili could finish Jaille interrupted,

"Alright I think that's enough stories of Orcs for today or any day!" Bilbo looked like he would never sleep again.

"You think a night raid by Orcs is a joke?" Thorin asked Fili and Kili. He had a stern look on his face.

"We didn't mean anything of it. We were just pulling his leg." Kili felt horrible. He didn't want Thorin to be upset at him.

"No you didn't. You know nothing of the world." Thorin had gotten up and walked to the edge of the cliff were some of the ponies where.

"Thorin there young and don't understand, you know they didn't mean to offend you." Jaille stood up and was going to walk up to him but Balin stopped her.

"Jaille just leave him." Balin's hand was on Jaille's shoulder. He held on but Jaille just shook him off and went to go smoke her pipe by Gandalf.

"What's wrong with Thorin?" Bilbo was nervous that they might get upset at him for prying into their business.

"Don't mind him laddie. Thorin has more cause then most to hate orcs. After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain, King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient dwarf kingdom Moria… but our enemy had got there first. Moria had been taken by legions of Orcs, led by the most vile of all their race, Azog the Defiler. The giant Gundabad Orc had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin. He began by beheading the King. Thrain, Thorin's father, was driven mad by grief. He went missing, taken prisoner or killed; we did not know. We were leaderless, defeat, death were upon us. That is when I saw him; the young dwarf prince facing down the Pale Orc. He stood alone against this terrible foe, his armor rent, wielding nothing but an oaken branch as a shield… Azog the Defiler learned that day that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken. Our forces rallied and drove the Orcs back; our enemy had been defeated… but there was no feast or songs that night, for our dead were beyond the count of grief. We few survived and I thought to myself then 'There is one I could follow. There is one I could call king'." said Balin. The story was a haunting memory to Balin and those who survived.

Thorin had now walked back to the others. Everyone was now awake. It was hard for Jaille to not look at Thorin. The gentle breeze made his dark hair blow behind him. Jaille couldn't help but think that he looked quite handsome, but she couldn't think that anymore. That was in the past and their feelings for each other had passed long ago.

"And the Pale Orc, what happened to him?" Bilbo asked. He wanted to know if Azog was still alive or if he had perished.

"He slumped back into the hole which he came from. The filth died long ago of his wounds." Thorin answered. All were quiet for the rest of the night, but Gandalf stayed awake for he knew that Azog was alive and he knew Azog wanted Thorin's head. Though Azog was not alone for he had a much greater ally. A dark powerful man, Ratchet the Destroyer.