Chapter 4
The Journey Begins
I was up before all the dwarves and had breakfast ready. I stood in the kitchen in trousers I had for awhile with a red long sleeve tunic with a black corset wrapped around me. I was able to go get food for breakfast for the dwarves. I didn't tell any of them of what was going on. I was cooking eggs and sausages along with bacon and toast.
"Something smells good." Voices came and I knew the smell had awaken the dwarves. There was a rush into the dining room to find me waiting.
"Dinner is ready, boys. I hope your hungry." I said, with a smile as I set the last of the plates down. The dwarves quickly got in their seats and I served them milk. Fili gave me a wink and I quickly turn away from the dwarves to hide my blush. I didn't see Kili elbow Fili, who gave him the look to shut up. I gathered the plates as soon as the dwarves were done eating.
"Thank you for the meal, lass. You didn't have to." Balin said, coming up with Thorin.
"I thought I would be nice and cook you all something before we head out." I said.
"It was very much appreciated. Are you ready to leave?" Thorin asked.
"I am. My bag is in my bedroom and if my father isn't going. I like to give him a kiss goodbye." I said. Thorin nods his approval and I hurry to get my bag. I throw my quiver of arrows over my shoulder with my bow after I put my bag on. I head into my father's room. He was fast asleep, still in the clothes from yesterday. I leaned down and kissed his check. "Goodbye, father. I hope you change your mind." I head out of the room to see the dwarves were outside, but Fili stood waiting for me.
"The others are getting the ponies ready. Would you like your own or ride with someone?" Fili asked.
"Can I ride with someone?" I ask.
"Thorin said it was alright if you did. Who do you want to ride with?" Fili asked as we walked out the door.
"Oh. I'm sure she wants to ride with me first, brother." Kili said.
"No. I want to ride with Fili." I said. Kili just smirked as Fili shot him a glare.
"Everyone on ponies. We are moving out now." Thorin said. Fili led me over to one of the ponies and took off my bag to strap it on.
"Need some help getting on?" Fili asked. I nod and he lifted me up onto the front while he got on behind me. He wrapped one arm around my waist as he took the reins in the other hand. I leaned against his chest.
"You two look comfy." Kili said.
"Shut up, Kili." Fili said.
"I said nothing." Kili said. I giggled at the two.
"I am. Now stop annoying your brother." I said.
"Yes, mom." Kili said. Fili chuckled as I grinned as the dwarves started moving. Fili asked about my life in the shire and I asked about his, finding out he lived in Ered Luin and his father died in war when him and Kili were young. I didn't ask anymore as I listened to the dwarves bet if my father was going to show or not as Fili and Kili argued about a memory that of a prank they played on their uncle.
"I bet my father will be here." I said.
"I bet he won't. Ten coins if he doesn't." Kili said.
"Ten coins he does." I said.
"Deal." Kili said.
"Your worse then Nori when it comes to wagering." Fili said.
"Hey. I win most of the time." Kili said.
"Yeah. "Most." of the time." Fili said, earning a chuckles from him. I traced circles on Fili's hand that was around my waist as I stared off in the distance as the dwarves complained that the trip was a waste and that the hobbit was useless and that all they got was a woman. I kept my mouth shut, but didn't realize that Fili was glaring at the dwarves. A familiar voice came yelling making all of us stop and I turn in the saddle.
"I signed it!" Bilbo said, catching up to us and handing the contract over to Balin. I grin as I looked at my father from where I sat as Balin pulled out his glasses.
"I'm glad you came, father." I said.
"I wasn't gonna let my only child go with a bunch of strangers." Bilbo said.
"She would have been in good hands." Fili said.
"I know, but still." Bilbo said.
"Everything appears to be in order. Welcome, Master Baggins, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield." Balin said. I joined the cheering. Thorin was the only one that didn't look happy as he turned his pony forward.
"Give him a pony." Thorin said.
"Take the reins for a minute." Fili whispered. I took the reins as we all rode forward.
"No, no, no, no, that won't be necessary, thank you, but I'm sure I can keep up on foot. I've done my fair share of walking holidays, you know. I even got as far as Frogmorton once... WAGH!" Bilbo was lifted in the air and set on a pony by Fili and Kili. I chuckled as we rode on and Gandalf rode with Bilbo.
"Come on, Nori, pay up. Go on!" Oin said. Purses were tossed around.
"Kili. Pay up." I call. Kili tossed me the purse and Fili put it in my backpack.
"I can't believe I lost to a girl." Kili mumbled.
"First time gambling and I won. I think you dwarves are wearing on me." I said, earning a chuckle from Fili and a smirk from Kili.
"You'll learn fast, lass." Bofur said with a smile.
"Wait, wait, stop! Stop! We have to turn around." Bilbo called, making us all stop.
"Father? What is it?" I ask.
"What on earth is the matter?" Gandalf asked.
"I forgot my handkerchief." Bilbo said. I shook my head at Bilbo.
"Here." Bofur said. He tore a piece of cloth of his clothes and tosses it to Bilbo, who caught it by the tips of his fingers looking at it with disgust. "Use this." The dwarves laugh.
"Move on." Dwalin called. Gandalf talked as we traveled.
"Want to get to know each other more?" I ask.
"What do you have in mind?" Fili asked.
"What's your favorite color" I ask. Fili smiled and we asked each other questions. I got to know him more and he got to know me more.
That night. We camped at a cliffs edge. Fili and Kili were sitting near a rock face being the first on watch as I laid on my bedroll near the fire near their feet. Fili's bedroll was right next to mine along with Kili's. I laid, staring up at the stars. I saw Bilbo head over to the ponies as I listened to Fili and Kili talk and listened to the snores of the dwarves. Thorin was asleep sitting up on a rock near the fire. I looked at Fili, who was watching me as he smoked his pipe.
"Go to sleep. Your safe." Fili said. I nod and close my eyes. A screech came and I sat up. Fili and Kili looked up. I reached for my weapons but discovered it was a distance away.
"What was that?" Bilbo asked.
"Orcs." Kili said.
"Orcs?" Bilbo and I asked. Bilbo ran back closer to the fire as another screech was heard and Thorin sat up at the word orcs.
"Throat-cutters. There'll be dozens of them out there. The lowlands are crawling with them." Fili said. I brought my knees up to my chest, afraid especially with what Kili says next.
"They strike in the wee small hours, when everyone's asleep. Quick and quiet, no screams, just lots of blood." Kili said. I was frightened as I felt the blood drain from my face. Fili and Kili chuckled and I knew they did it to scare us.
"You think that's funny?" I look up as Thorin approached his nephews while talking, "You think a night raid by orcs is a joke?" Thorin gives FIli and Kili a stern look. Kili sighed.
"We didn't mean anything by it." Kili said.
"No, you didn't. You know nothing of the world." Thorin said, walking towards the ponies to the edge to look over the valley. Balin comes over.
"Don't mind him, laddie. Thorin has more cause than most to hate orcs." Balin said. He proceeded to tell us the story of the battle of Moria where Thorin's grandfather was killed by Azog and his father went missing and how Thorin got the name Thorin Oakenshield and how Azog was defeated. "But there was no feast, no song, that night, for our dead were beyond the count of grief. We few survived. Thorin lost his brother Ferin along with Fili and Kili's father that day with his grandfather and uncle. But. I thought to myself then, there is one who I could follow. There is one I could call King." Balin finished with everyone but Fili, Kili, Gandalf, Bilbo, and I standing as Thorin turned to face us. He gives us a nod and walks back to the fire.
"But the pale orc? What happened to him?" Bilbo asked.
"He slunk back into the hole whence he came. That filth died of his wounds long ago." Thorin said as he head to sit down. I saw a look shared between Gandalf and Bilbo and I had a feeling that Azog wasn't dead. Something crossed my mind.
"Wait. If your uncle is a king that makes you two?" I ask
"Princes. Yes." Kili said.
"I'm the next in line for the throne if anything happens to Thorin." Fili said. I didn't say anything else as I laid back down facing away from them and into the fire. I knew I was starting to develop feelings for Fili, but he was a prince. Would he fall for a peasant girl like me? And would Thorin approve? I fell asleep lost in my thoughts.
Fili's POV. She looked more beautiful in firelight as I watched her fall asleep. She had fallen silent after she found out we were princes and laid down to sleep.
"Your falling for her." Kili said.
"Yes, but I don't think uncle will approve because she's not of royal blood. Would she love me?" I ask.
"It doesn't matter what uncle thinks. Long as your happy. She is by the way she looks at you and how she blushes when you touch her. She loves you." Kili said. I knew he was right, but I was hesitant for now. I kept looking from the stars to her all during the watch with Kili. Could a dwarf prince have a life with a hobbit lass?
AN: There's the new chapter. Loving the reviews, favorites, and follows. It keeps me going. I'll update as soon as I can. Till next time