*peeking very slowly out from behind a very large cushion * ok I'm really very, very sorry. Very sorry. So on with this chapter!
The company sat in a deep silence, too tired to even speak a few words to each other and eventually they had all drifted to sleep. Daisy had been left alone after she'd spoken to Thorin about Bilbo, and even though she'd felt a tiny bit lonely after Thorin had left her side, she was glad for the time alone. The dwarves had got a small fire going and the room had been warmed nicely, leaving Daisy to make herself comfortable in her chair.
What had been bothering her was the more she thought about it, the more she became certain that Bilbo was hiding something. Curled up on her small chair, the horror of the mountains seemed like a lifetime ago. Yet something was threatening to consume them all, and what frustrated her is that she had no idea what.
"I cannot believe you lost him, you absolute idiot" Daisy heard the door open and the hushed voice of Fili reached her ears.
"It's not my fault brother," Kili answered, violently whispering. "He just disappeared!"
"Hush or else you'll wake everyone and alert them to this slight mishap!" Daisy pretended to be asleep as the two set up their beds.
"Perhaps Beorn has found him and taken him to get food or something" Kili suggested.
"Beorn transforms into a Bear at night, did you not listen to Gandalf when we bumped into him in the kitchen earlier! Bilbo could be eaten!" Daisy resisted the urge to sit straight up and find Bilbo.
"Bilbo's smart, and if he can disappear from us he can disappear from a bear."
"You never cease to amaze me"
Daisy listened to the muffled conversation of the brothers fade away into snores, and was just about to search for Bilbo when the door opened. Expecting to see Bilbo she let out a breath, but when no one appeared and the door shut she became fully alert. A shadow flickered across the wall and Daisy sat bolt upright eyeing the darkness. Someone was chuckling to themselves, and then right before her eyes Bilbo appeared on his bedroll.
"Silly dwarves, outwitted them again!" Bilbo chuckled.
"Yet you did not outwit me, Bilbo Baggins." Daisy said, causing Bilbo to sit bolt upright.
"D-Daisy!"
"Bilbo, you scared me!" Daisy began. "Fili and Kili came in saying they'd lost you and then the doors opened and you appeared from thin air!"
"Bother, Daisy-"
"Bilbo! You were invisible!"
"Keep your voice down child." Bilbo said sternly, causing Daisy to stare at him. Never before had he lost his temper with her or talked down to her as he had done just now. "You do not know need to know these things."
"I have a right to know! Ever since we left the mountains something has been different about you! You've obsessed over your pocket, been more agitated and dismissed anyone who's tried to tell you otherwise!" Daisy left her chair and came down to join Bilbo. "Now tell me, what have you got in your pocket?"
"Or what, you'll eat me whole?" Bilbo said viciously, causing Daisy to jump back at his repeated words of the creature.
"Bilbo, let me see."
"No, its mine."
"Bilbo-"
"I said its mine, child. Do not interfere anymore than you already have. Go to sleep and do not bother me again."
"But Bilbo-"
"Do you want me to lock you out and leave you to Beorn's bear form?"
Daisy couldn't contain the tears that started to fall as Bilbo turned away from her and lay down. But whether by sheer determination or adrenaline she grabbed Bilbo and pulled him to face her.
"The Bilbo I know would never have said that to me no matter how angry he became."
"Then perhaps you do not know me at all." Daisy stared at him.
"Bilbo-"
"What? Go and tell Thorin for all I care." Daisy made a sudden movement to reach for his pocket but Bilbo grabbed her hand and slapped her across her face. "I did not want to hurt you Daisy, but if you ever do that again then I will not hesitate to run you through with this sword."
Daisy slowly retreated away from the hobbit, clutching her face and trembling at his words. Bilbo turned away from her again and this time Daisy did not dare touch him. There was no way Bilbo was his normal self, no matter how angry and hurt she wanted to feel she was positive that whatever was in his pocket had something to do with it. The real Bilbo would never have threatened to kill her. Slowly retreating to the safety of her armchair, Daisy let the tears roll down her face as she cried herself to sleep.
HHHHHHHHHHH
The moment Thorin woke he knew that something had occurred in the night. He looked across at the chair that he had left Daisy in and let out a sigh of relief when he saw her sound asleep. A ruffling noise caught his attention and he look around to see his nephews.
"See look, he's there asleep." Kili was saying.
"Fine." Fili replied.
"You were so worried! Ha! You should trust me more brother."
"No, if you hadn't lost him in the first place then we wouldn't have had cause to worry."
"You wouldn't have had cause to worry, I never was!"
"Yes you were!"
"No I wasn't!"
Knowing the way this conversation was going to go, Thorin decided to interfere.
"I do not want to know who it is you lost, why you had cause to worry and who was worried the most all I want is for you two to stop arguing."
"Uncle!" Fili jumped around, facing Thorin. "You are awake! We were just hungry." Kili stood beside Fili, nodding so much Thorin feared his head would fall off.
"I suggest you find the kitchens whilst I wake the others then" Thorin told them and before he could even blink they were out the door.
Thorin turned back to his company and eyed hobbit, curled protectively round his middle. Perhaps he was hurt? Orill? Either way he did not look comfortable so Thorin made to move him. As soon as he touched the hobbit's sleeping form however, Bilbo jumped up and grabbed Thorin. The look in Bilbo's eyes was one of pure terror.
"Bilbo! Calm down! I'm just waking you up" The hobbit immediately stilled, and then nodded silently gathering his things. Thorin turned around and saw Daisy standing before him, the same look of terror etched into her face.
"Are we going to breakfast?" She asked quietly. "I'm awfully hungry" Thorin didn't know whether to be pleased that she admitted hunger or worried from the way she was acting.
"Yes, of course. Fili and Kili have gone to the ktichens. You could go with Bilbo and join them whilst I wake the others up." Thorin did not miss the way she jumped when he said Bilbo's name, nor the way she hesitated before leaving with Bilbo behind her. Thorin swore to himself that as soon as they were alone, he would find out what had happened to both his partner and burglar.
It turned out that Thorin would have to wait even longer than he expected to speak to his one, as Gandalf revealed his plan for the company.
After managing to get his men up and into the food hall, he did not fail to notice that Bilbo and Daisy were sitting at opposite ends of the table. They were so close, not even a small argument could keep them apart for long.
"Ah, Thorin!" Gandalf spoke, interrupting Thorin's thoughts. "I hope you slept well"
"Indeed,wizard." Thorin replied, seating himself next to Daisy. "I hope the same for you?"
"As always. Now, the next stage of you journey is crucial. You must reach the mountain by Durin's Day, no further delays can be possible." Gandalf urged, buttering his bread.
"And what do you suggest?"
"I am leaving you; I have been called to matters further East. But I won't be going alone." Thorin followed the wizard's gaze. It settled on Daisy.
"You are not taking Daisy with you. She stays with me." Thorin argued, furious.
"Thorin, this is for the best. Matters that not even I can comprehend are forming under our very noses. It is for her safety and yours if she is to come with me. You will see her again, never fear."
"You shall not take her."
"I shall, and I must. If she is to stay with you then she will be in grave danger."
"Gandalf?" Daisy asked.
"Yes, my dear?"
"Where we're going, does it hold the answer to me being here?"
"That is what we're going to find out" Daisy looked to Thorin, her eyes pleading.
"Ever since I've come here, I have longed to find out why I am here. Let me go with him, and I will come back to you. That is a promise." Daisy smiled at him and in that second, Thorin knew he had to let her go.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHH
There you go! I am sorry. So sorry. Don't hate me please.