Alrighty, chapter three! The fourth should be up in a minute! Thanks to everyone who's looked over this so far and those who have faved/commented!
Disclaimer: Tolkien owns Tolkien, you own you!
You break out a level of cheer rivaling the holiday spirit the next morning. You assist with breakfast and loading the ponies with a smile and a song. The sheer force of your concentrated delight is enough to disarm your new companions and elicit tones devoid of hostility, if not at least cordial.
You borrow one of Bilbo's packs and a few of his supplies, having been dimension-swapped with nothing but the clothes on your back. As you stuff several blankets into the pack, you hear Bofur ask, "What about the hobbit?"
"If he's not awake, we leave him behind," Thorin replies flatly.
Nori intones, "I'll wager he does stay behind."
This leads to sides taken and money promised. You smile and shake your head at the antics. Even if you're not yet a part of the group, you can still appreciate them from afar.
"What of you, lady?" Fili asks. "What does your foresight say?"
"Me?" You blink, then smile again. "Bilbo will come," you say confidently. "He'll just be a little late."
The Dwarves pause at this pronouncement. You're thrilled to hear some of them change their wagers in undertones. Well, if it took losing a bet to get them to believe in you, so be it.
You leave Bag End with a private, heartfelt farewell to the round, green door and thriving garden. You take your place in the pony parade. Denizens of Hobbiton stare in amazement and outrage as the procession passes. You wave at all of them, because why not?
The road turns into a forest path that's shaded by ancient trees on both sides. You enjoy the sun filtered coolly through the green canopy, inhale the fresh woodland air, and take a moment to marvel yet again that you were somehow in the land of your dreams.
"Wait! Wait!" calls a voice from behind the procession. You grin and turn around. Bilbo is racing to catch up. The horses halt. "I signed it," he pants, handing the contract to Balin.
Balin examines the signatures and declares, "Everything seems to be in order. Welcome to the company of Thorin Oakenshield."
Bilbo beams. You giggle.
"Give him a pony," Thorin says.
Bilbo's smile vanishes. Against his wishes, he is seated on a pony. He rides stiffly, unused to the motion of the animal.
Bags of coins begin flying back and forth as the outcome of the bet is determined. You smirk and catch your own. The only reason you bet was to make a quick buck; now you owned the clothes on your back and ten gold pieces.
Bilbo sneezes violently. "Oh, this horse hair! I'm having a reaction!" he grumbles. He pats himself for his handkerchief.
"Looking for this?" You ride up next to him and produce the embroidered square of cloth. Bilbo takes it wonderingly. "I knew you'd be in a rush and forget to pack it," you explained, "so I picked it up before we left."
"Oh. Well. Thank you."
You frown at his somewhat clipped tone. "Are you mad at me?"
"Not mad, no. I just would have appreciated the truth, Lady Star-Follower."
"Oh!" You'd forgotten the discrepancy between your stories. "I'm sorry! But I didn't technically lie - the stars did bring me here, if in a way I could never make you believe. I just didn't know Thorin would be coming so soon."
"And I didn't know he'd be coming at all!" Bilbo exclaimed. "You might have shared your foresight!"
"I can't tell you everything I know. Some things you'll have to figure out for yourselves. I am sorry. Are you really mad at me? You were gonna be my only friend for a while..."
Bilbo softens at this, possibly because he understands the sentiment. "Alright. You're out of the woods this time. But you would do well to give me some hints about this business."
You laugh. "Yeah, I've got you covered."
You're mostly unaware that Gandalf was listening to this exchange, and that his grey eyes now rest on you.
Night falls and Thorin calls to make camp. You're happy to get off your horse, but not too thrilled about the sleeping arrangements. You always wondered how anyone could sleep on the ground with just a blanket between them and the dirt. Well, like it or not, you were about to find out.
Continuing your desperate crusade to improve the Dwarves' opinion of you, you attempt to help prepare supper. Bombur is having none of that, however, so you collect a large stack of firewood and sit quietly on a log to await your portion. The talk around the fire is in a mix of Khuzdul and Common, so you can glean that many of the conversations are about you. You're encouraged to hear that the tones are more curious than hateful. Your campaign of cheer of must have made an impact.
But how can you not be cheerful? It would probably take being captured by orcs and tortured for you not to be in a stellar mood. Of all the universes for one overpowered wish to land you in, you get Middle Earth. Then again, Harry Potter Land had running water and magic...
"Here," says a voice from a bit above you. You blink out of your reverie and look up to see Kili with an extra bowl in hand.
"Oh, thanks." You take the offering. "By the way, sorry about embarrassing you earlier."
"I wasn't embarrassed!" Kili says indignantly. Another slight blush challenges his claim.
"Okay, my mistake! It's just that I had to make your uncle believe me, and I figured personal details were the best way to do that."
"Why was it so important for you to come with us? Why would an elf have so much interest in the business of Dwarves?"
"Everyone keeps asking that, and I keep giving the same answer: I want to help."
"But why?"
"Because I want Thorin as King Under the Mountain, and I want you and Fili as his successors, and I want Erebor to return to all its glory," you say firmly, and you mean it. You'd always wanted that, especially after Battle of the Five Armies crushed the dream, but now that you had a chance of making it happen, the desire was even stronger.
Kili sits next to you. "You are unlike any elf I've ever met."
You laugh. "How many elves have you met?"
"I...a few."
"Well, I'm glad you don't hate me." You glance around, then whisper conspiratorially, "Wanna know a secret about your future?"
Kili's brown eyes widen and he nods.
"You'll find your true love on this quest."
"Oh, you tease!"
"I'm not teasing! She's amazing and gorgeous and a great warrior!"
"Tell me her name," Kili demands.
You shake your head. "Nah. Can't go giving it all away. Gotta leave something to the imagination."
Kili, though frustrated by the tantalizing lack of information, doesn't question you further. He runs to his brother, saying excitedly, "Fili, the lady elf says I'm going to find love!"
You smile fondly after him. He's even more wonderful in person. If you didn't think he'd stab you, you'd fulfill a lifelong goal and cuddle with him.
Gandalf's long shadow eclipses you. You jump at his sudden presence. "True love, hmm?" he says shrewdly.
"I - I was just giving him a little peek," you say almost guiltily.
"You sound nervous, good lady. Do I frighten you?"
"Ah, I think so, Mithrandir."
Gandalf takes Kili's vacated spot. His sharp gaze once again pierces you. You wrinkle your nose but try not to look away. He says slowly, "You are not from Mirkwood, nor are you from Rivendell or Lothlorien."
"I guess you could call me a wild elf."
"A wild elf, yet you have no weapon to defend yourself."
The fact hits you like a brick. You clap your hand to your forehead. How are you supposed to defend yourself without so much as a dagger?! You'll have to hope that there will be an extra blade in the troll-hole.
"And you seem surprised by this," Gandalf adds with a hint of bemusement.
You look up at him tiredly. "I'm gonna guess I haven't convinced you."
"I am not sure I trust you. There are many things about you and your knowledge that are a mystery to me. But I am convinced that you are no threat to this quest."
"That'll do for now," you sigh.
"I should like to know more about your insight, if you would humor me."
"I - well - " How can you say that you've memorized everything from yesterday to thirty months from now because you're obsessed with Tolkien? Gandalf wouldn't even know who Tolkien is! "I can't give you a straight answer, or even a roundabout one. Sorry, I know that doesn't make you trust me any more. It's just one of those things."
Gandalf continues to survey you. You dejectedly rest your head in your hand. You find it ironic that you never would have foreseen the struggles of omniscience.
"Well," Gandalf says in a gentler voice, "I suppose it's neither here nor there. We should be grateful that you're so willing to share your knowledge with us."
"Really?" you gasp, heart lifting. Gandalf winks at you. "O-Okay! Great! Thank you! I really didn't want you to hate me because you'll be the only voice of reason for when Thorin inevitably gets grumpy and tries to kick me out!"
Gandalf actually chuckles. "You know this for certain?"
You roll your eyes. "It doesn't take foresight to know that Thorin gets grumpy, it only takes an hour in the same room with him."