Chapter 9

As soon as everyone was dressed again and somewhat cleaned off (and only because off their burglar's express desire) they were to set off search of what Thorin had called a Troll Horde.

"I do think I've had enough of trolls. Balin do we really have to look for it?" She asked, running her fingers through her hair as she spoke,

"Troll Hordes have many precious items in there, many of which we could use. The are weapons, there should be food..." At Brynna's doubtful look he added, "Troll's eat all kinds of food's. But they don't fancy much other than their own cooking so if they have food it will probably be our kind of food."

Brynna didn't think so but she gave Balin the benefit of the doubt. She had been wrong about things having to do with trolls before.

"Thankyou Bilbo. Thought we were done for surely but a little quick thinkin' was really all we needed." Bofur smiled, adjusting his floppy-eared hat on his head.

She gaped, staring after him as he walked away. She hadn't really thought of what she had done a a heroic deed. It wasn't really, it was more like a quick save before they all died.

Kili smiled, "Well done with that whole cooking dwarf thing." He looked at her thoughtfully, then pulled her into a bear hug. She stiffened, then relaxed. This was truly the life for her. Living on the road, being accepted through random acts of bravery. That was her paradise.

The thought of her brother, the real Bilbo Baggins surfaced up out of the many thoughts that cluttered her head. He was probably at home, wondering where his sister had run off to. She had wanted to stay for him, that was the reason for her doubt. A silly reason considering that he wouldn't really have spent time with her. He didn't care for the things she cared for. He spent most of his time enjoying a warm hearth, a full larder, and all the comforts of his hobbit hole.

Brynna wanted him to be like her, wanting adventure and despising a lack of it. But alas, she could never ask that much of him. He was his own hobbit. A true Baggins.

"What's the matter?" Balin asked her worriedly. She sighed and gave him a crooked smile. I'm okay, just looking thinking.

He nodded his head sympathetically, "Do you have a relative you left behind? Back at the Shire?"

Glancing up at him sharply she nodded, "How did you know?"

"It's been years since my brother and I have seen each other for such a long period of time. It feels good, but being away from those close to you takes it's toll. And it's especially hard when you're all alone with no one you actually know." He left her side with that, pulling on one of his nice leather gloves beside Thorin. He was talking to the dwarf king in hushed tones, not directly looking at him as he spoke.

Bryn ducked her head, almost sick of the amount of eavesdropping she ha been doing. Shame on you! But still she instinctively strained her ears. Balin and Thorin split ways before she could catch anything notable.

"The troll horde will be further this way." Thorin called out, heading deeper into the forest. Kili and Fili ran to catch up with him, and she was practically dragged along by the other nine dwarves.

A light breeze went through the trees, coming with it a foul stench.

"This way!" Thorin turned, leading them into a clearing that ended in a deep dark cave.

Bryn was actually not even phased by it. The trolls were dead, and even though her first instinct would be to cover her mouth, she refused to do that, instead following Thorin and Gandalf into the Horde.

It smelled very bad in there, but there must have been an underwater stream in the back of the cave that brought ina little fresh air.

Dozens of swords and bows littered the floor, golden goblets and suits of armor piled in one corner and a mass of golden coins looked fresh spilt in the entrance of the cave. Bofur ran his foot through the pile of gold coins, Gloin looking fondly at the rubies and sapphires sprinkled in the mess.

"Seems such a shame to leave it all here." Nori said wistfully, not waiting before telling Gloin to get a shovel. They both filled a chest with the gold and a few of the studded goblets before closing it and dropping it in the small hole they had dug.

Thorin and Gandalf had taken a fancy in a few of the more fancy swords, placed in an old wooden barrel.

Brynn a herself was watching Nori, Gloin, and Bofur finish bury the second chest of gold and jewels.

"I thought you said you didn't care for jewels?" She cocked an eyebrow at Bofur, the dwarf shrugging, tossing dirt over the wooden chest.

"I said I didn't obsess over it. I do find it beautiful, and know that I have these saphires I'll have the most beautiful eyes for that elephaunt. He showed her two very small sapphires, seeming to glow in the torchlight.

"Let's get out of here, the scent of troll is starting to get to me." Dwalin growled, hefting his large axe and striding out of the cave.

Brynna followed him, chuckling. The troll horde did have many items in it, but the only thing that was of use to the dwarves in terms of nourishment was a little bucket sized amount of ale. And that didn't really count as nourishment in Brynna's eyes.

"We'll go back to the camp, rest for the day, and set off tomorrow morning." Thorin decided, buckling an elegant elvish blade onto his belt as he eld the way back to the campground.

"I'm amazed he actually took that." Bryn said bluntly to Dori, the dwarf shaking his head in amazement as he walked away.

"Bilbo!" Gandalf called.

She walked over to him, "Yes?"

"I do believe this is you size." He handed her a small sword. It was not as elegant as Thorin's, or as impressive as the long sword at Gandalf's waist, but to her... it was perfect. An iron scabbard with a leather belt wrapped around it completed it. Her first instinct was to look at the blade, but she didn't. It was a sword and she knew what swords were used for. Killing. Something she was not capable of.

"Gandalf, I can't take this." She blinked, uncomfortable with the situation she had been placed in.

"It is an elvish blade. Which means it will glow blue when orcs or goblins are near. Besides, you may need it."

"Well... It is quite lovely." She paused, before opening it up to look at the blade. It slid out of the scabbard smoothly, the handle fitting in her hands. "I've never used a sword before."

"And I hope you never have to. But if the time comes, and it probably will, remember this. It takes more courage to know when to spare a life, than when to take one." Gandalf nodded, then straightened up and walked away, seeming happy enough with how he had ended the conversation.

Brynna watched him follow the other dwarves into the woods, heading back to the campground. When she was sure they were gone she let out a squeak of excitement. Holding it up in front of her with both hands. Oh it was lovely. So smooth and it seemed to glow in the low light of the morning.

"Bilbo!"

Scampering after the company, she sheathed her blade, tying the belt around her waist. The belt was a little long, but that was alright, it would have to do.

Bryn laughed, watching the dwarves dance around the fire. Their spirits had been lifted by the ale in their stomachs, and the warm food cooking over the fire. She pursed her lips in thought, contemplating joining them before she did so. What harm could it do? She was just having a good time.

Kili danced with her for a while while his brother danced with Ori, and then she traded places with Fili. Ori smiled at her, but didn't say anything other than that. He seemed a little uncomfortable around her, and she wondered why. She had taken a bath in the nearby stream whilst the dwarves were drinking ale, and didn't have anything on her face. But she didn't have the chance to talk to him because then Bofur announce that the repairs to his flute were finished and that he could add in the the tune of the song the dwarves were singing.

Out of breath, she plopped down, refusing Fili and Kili when they demanded that the burglar of the company join in the fun.

"Having fun?" Thorin's voice sounded behind her. She looked over her shoulder, seeing the dwarf king's amused look.

"I am actually. I think I deserve it. After all I did save your lice-ridden head." She smirked at him, catching him in the act of giving his youngest nephew a reprimanding look. If he thought she had forgotten all of the comments about head lice and worms he was mistaken.

Thorin opened his mouth to reply to her, then closed it, looking away from her. That was odd... Bryn thought, watching as he got out his pipe and lit it, behavior stating that the conversation was over.

Sighing she plucked a few pieces of grass out of the earth in front of her, "Well, I didn't do anything wrong so why is it you despise me?"

Thorin looked at her with something that resembled disappointment, "I... don't resent you. I just find your stubbornness irritating." He growled out the last part, getting up and leaving her side.

"Ouch. I don't think my uncle is happy that you've stayed with the company so long," Kili stated blandly, plopping down beside her, "He expected you to leave at the first sign of trouble. But seeing as you're still here..."

"Seeing as I'm still here what?"

"He thinks that you lack of experience makes you a liability, laddie. And he's probably right. But if that's what bothers him then I have no idea why he let Kili come. Kili isn't even come of age yet." Balin joined the conversation, "You never know what goes on in Thorin's mind but it's probably something serious so don't worry about it. We'll find out soon enough without turning gray."

Kili snorted, and Brynna did the same thing. Balin had white hair.

"Want some ale?" Kili whispered in her ear. He smirked, and handed her a goblet. Probably from the toll horde.

She looked at it, then took it, drinking down the stuff. It tasted nasty and left a burning feeling in her stomach. "How can you drink this?"

"After a while you get used to it and it starts to taste good." Kili frowned, "but you surely have tried it before?"

"I've tried it, but I don't like. I'm not a dwarf..." She mumble something else, before waving him away in dismissal. He laughed at her 'kingly' behavior, and went to start dancing some more.

Tiredness swamped her, and she felt her mind grow foggy. She needed rest...

"It's the morning of a completely new day, and we still can't have any peace... Wake up already Bilbo!"

Bryn groaned and turned over, burying her face into her pack. Let them just leave her. Knowing the dwarves she could catch up to them... Nightfall!

She bolted into a sitting position, banging heads with whoever was unfortunate to lean over her at theat moment. She let out a yelp but felt a firm hand placed over her mouth. She heard Thorin hush her, and then his hand was removed from her mouth. What was happening this time?

"Someone's coming." Kili filled her in, twisting his sword in his hands. Bryn slowly stood up, the forest clearing still dim in the early morning. The cracking of branches and the sound of running filled the forest.

"Thieves! Blood! Darkness!" A man in a dirty brown robe and a scraggly brown hat of the same color burst into the clearing. He was riding a sled pulled by twenty large rabbits. Rabbits? Really, she had seen some odd things lately but this one was at the top of the list.

Bombur spluttered some nonsense, and patted his fat cheeks with his chubby hands in consternation. Poor dwarf. He probably wasn't used to this much stress.

Gandalf entered the clearing, looking pleased when he saw the strange figure. "Ad, Radagast..." Seeing the wizard's troubled countenance he continued, "Are you alright?"

"Gandalf, we must talk."

The two wizards walked off into the forest, their profiles all but completely visible as the sun came up. They seemed ver engrossed in their conversation, and Bryn busied herself with trying to get one of the rabbits to come up to her.

"Come 'ere..." She soothed it with a little humming sound, but stopped when she got a few looks from Thorin. She didn't need him discovering she was female just for the sake to touch a rabbit. She stopped humming, but continued to hold out her hand, eventually just all together looking away from the rabbit.

"They'll never come up to you. They apparently only answer to wizards and themselves." Kili pouted. Watching as one of them ate some sort of growth on the forest floor.

Bryn ignored his nay-saying, and her lips started to curl upward when she felt a velvet nose brush her fingertips. She slowly peeked at the rabbit, and saw that it was now placing both paws onto her palm and smelling it curiously. Slowly, as not to frighten it away, she reached out her other hand, letting it smell it before stroking it's soft ears.

The rabbit smelled her some more, and the returned back to the side of its fellows.

"You were saying?" She cocked an eyebrow at the young dwarf prince, laughing at his facial expression.

"Quiet!" Thorin snapped, pacing behind her. He kept glancing over at Gandalf and Radagast anxiously. 'He probably just wants to get moving,' she thought bitterly. He was such a stuck up... She waved her thoughts away.

Bryn looked down, and saw something glowing on the inside of her jacket. She pulled her sword out of it's sheath slowly, seeing at once that it was turning a light blue color.

"Orcs!" She jumped up, gesturing for Thorin to look at his own blade. It too, was glowing brightly, and she heard Thorin curse before a large wolf-like creature burst into the clearing. The rabbits bolted to their master, Kili was pulled away from the creature's jaws just before Thorin thrust Orcrist up through the creature's skull. Another one appeared, and Dwalin cut it down with his battle axe before it reached the clearing.

"Warg scouts!" Thorin growled, wiping his sword off in the grass. "That means an orc pack is not far behind." Gandalf sighed heavily, looking around at the dead two wizards had rushed up as soon as the wargs had been decapitated.

"Who have you told about your quest Thorin Oakenshield?! Who have you told?!" When Thorin told Gandalf no one and swore it, the wizards face fell. "You are being hunted."

Brynna opened her mouth, but then saw how brightly her sword was glowing. "The orcs aren't far away! What are we going to do?"

"I'll distract them! Gandalf you lead them to safety!" Before the other wizard could be called back, he had clambered atop his sled and raced away, shouting out insults to the oncoming orc pack. Bryn could already hear their unholy screams as they chased after the brown wizard.

"Lead the way!" Thorin gestured for Gandalf to start moving, and the hobbit could see the wizard cast one more look towards were his friend had gone before racing though the woods.

He led them along a very twisted path, which couldn't be helped because of the orcs still on lookout. Thorin pulled her back when she almost stumbled into view of the orcs, holding her close to his side before leaving her to follow Gandalf.

They had to be close to the hiding spot Gandalf had in mind, Bryn could almost feel that they were close to being in the clear. The company had stopped for a break to hide, and she could hear the growls of an approaching scout.

Thorin and Kili shared a look, and Bryn watched in horror as he knocked an arrow into his bow. "NO," she mouthed, shaking her head in disapproval. But he didn't listen and rushed out into sight for but a moment before his arrow felled the warg. The orc however, was still alive. It squealed and screamed as Dwalin and Bofur finished it off.

"Don't put yourself in harms way like that." She hissed at Kili, who didn't listen but instead focused on the orc pack. the whole pack had turned to face the now visible company, and with a high-pitched scream the leader of the pack charged towards them.

"RUN!" Thorin pulled her with him, glancing behind them as he shoved Kili ahead of him. They found themselves circled, and Thorin wielded Orcrist and called to the others, "Gandalf has left us! We must hold our own!"

Bryn looked for the wizard, and saw him right before he called for them to follow him. Thorin gestured for her and the others to go with Gandalf. Gandalf was actually, in a cleft in the countryside, which led to where Bryn couldn't see. Thorin helped them all down the rough slab of rock that sloped down in the cave, and as the leader he was made sure they all went down first.

"Kili!" Thorin ran out of view and came back with his nephew in tow. They both slid down quickly, and waited in silence as the sound of horns and trumpets started sounding. Bryn could hear the sound of horses whinnying and snorting, and hear the sound of a battle.

She yelped when an orc slid down into their hiding place, only to find that it was dead. Thorin walked over to it, "Elves." He spat as he pulled a silver arrow-head out of its chest.

"Um, Thorin... There's a tunnel? Do we follow it?" Dori asked hesitantly, seeing the brooding expression on the dwarf king's face.

"Of course." Dwalin and Nori pushed ahead without another word, and they slowly made their way through the narrow passageway. It was cramped, and Bryn heard more than a few curses. In fact, she let out a few herself.

The passageway started to even out, and she started allowing herself to take some deep breaths of the clean, pristine air. When she finally got to the head of the group, her breath was taken away. She could see wooden houses melded with stone in beautiful harmony. A small group of songbrids flew past her, making her eyes turn towards the great waterfall and the river from which it originated. The river itself spread throughout the houses, into a garden laced with trees. The roar of the waterfall was somehow quiet and peaceful, and suddenly, all of the weight that had been holding her down lifted, almost like the leaves of the trees did when a cool breeze swept through.

"... here lies the last homely house of Elrond." Gandalf must have been saying where they were, but Brynna already knew where they were. She had read of this place in her mother's journal and her books.

"Rivendell..." She muttered, still in awe of the place in front of her.

Her peace was interrupted by Thorin (as usual most days), "This was your plan all along. To seek help from the enemy!"

"You have no enemy here... Except for the ones you bring upon yourself." Gandalf glanced around at the company. "We have a map that your leader cannot read, and without Lord Elrond's help our venture will be for nothing. Do you wish to see Erebor reclaimed or would you rather waste your time trying in vain?"

Brynna knew what her answer was, and everyone else agreed with her. Thorin grudgingly gave up his stubbornness, and they all made their way down the carved stone steps.

"So Gandalf? This is the Hidden Pass if I'm correct?" Bryn questioned the wizard, wanting to know where everything was. It was thrilling to be in one of the great elvish houses. Her mother had wanted so badly to come here, and Bryn could easily see why.