Now, I don't want everyone to start getting their hopes up. The likelihood of me continuing to post this fast in small. However, I am doing this in procrastination rather than revise for my exams, so they'll probably be rather frequent. Also, my track record for sticking with stories isn't too great, but I have a good feeling about this one. It's been easy to keep writing, so have faith and enjoy :)
Chapter 2
Aya watched as the last dwarf disappeared around the corner. She hadn't been waiting long, the sun had barely come up, before Thorin had made an appearance, opening the door quietly. When Gandalf, the last out, had shut it again, Bilbo wasn't with them. "Well, they most definitely need me then, if they are missing a burglar" she thought to herself.
She had decided to give them a head start, so as not to be caught out, lest they send her back. It was best that they were well out of the Shire before she made herself known, long after it was safe to send her home on her own. It would be easy enough for her to keep track of them, as she'd made a habit of following elf trails through the forests close to the Shire. And dwarf tracks were much easier to follow.
(X)
It was a good twenty minutes before the door of Bag End flew open, startling Aya out of her thoughts. She sat up, careful not to be seen, and watched as Bilbo rushed out, barely taking the time to lock up, before he was running down the hill in the direction of the dwarves, a roll of parchment flying behind him.
Standing up, she moved to the path that her uncle had just sped down and watched his progression, jumping over fences and avoiding hobbits. She heard a call of "I'm going on an adventure!" and smiled. The smile turned to a grin as she grabbed her bag, laughing as she trailed after him, at a much more reasonable pace. "So am I Uncle. So am I."
She waved and smiled apologetically at the hobbits who glared at her, as if she was responsible just because she knew Bilbo! Honestly, she would not miss these people, not miss the disapproval and the judgement they dished out where they had no reason to. As lovely as some of them were, it was not enough for her to look back.
The Shire however, now that was a different story. She loved this place, with its rolling hills and its babbling brooks. Loved that she could step out of her door with absolute certainty that she would step back in again, unhurt. But her safety came with a compromise; the compromise of never knowing, truly knowing, what the rest of the world had to offer. She knew in her heart that reading about things would never compare to experiencing them. And so she could not find it in herself to be sorry. Sorry to Bilbo for ignoring him when he only wanted her to be safe, nor sorry to the Shire for leaving when it offered her that safety.
(X)
It had been three weeks since they had left the Shire and night was falling on another hard day of traveling. Aya had taken to catching up with the dwarves at night, and sleeping close to their camp as an extra caution. This was much further than she had ever been on her short excursions, and she did not know what extra dangers to look out for.
This night they had found an incline in the hills they were journeying through and Aya had set up just around the corner, close enough that she could hear everything that was said and even see the ponies. She stopped listening however, when they started to complain of their aches from riding. What she wouldn't give for a pony! At least they didn't have to walk. She sat back with a huff, munching on a few berries she had found, not willing to break into her food rations just yet. Soon she would have to start sneaking into the dwarves' camp in order to steal food for herself. Ha, now wouldn't that prove her prowess at burgling!
She went still, disappearing into the shadows when she saw Bilbo come into sight, feeding his pony an apple. She dared not even breathe, for though she was sure he would not see her sat here in the dark, she would rather not risk it.
When the shrill calls sounded from across the valley however, she could not help turning her head quickly in the direction of the sound. Chills raced up her spine and she heard her uncle questioning its origin as he went back into the camp. She listened as two of the dwarves told of some of the things these 'orcs' liked to do to campers and almost blew her cover. As she made to get up and run to the others, where she would feel much safer, a voice stopped her.
"You think that's funny?" The question cut through the night and her heart stilled at the sound of his voice. She didn't question the calmness that it brought to her being and just allowed it to relax her, falling back so that she was resting against the rock wall of the hill. She listened quietly to Thorin's story, closing her eyes, picturing the scene the smooth voice painted of the Dwarf Prince. It did not surprise her to hear of Thorin's honourable disposition. What else but honour, honour for his Grandfather and for his people, would drive a person to travel so far to face a dragon? Perhaps pride, but he was a prince. Pride was in the job description.
She opened her eyes as the tale came to a close, and drew in a breath of surprise, for she could see said prince, stood with his back to her. She gazed at him as he stood in the moonlight and her heart fluttered, though not out of fear this time. Not even at the thought of discovery, but with something she could not explain…..
He turned and strode out of sight, offering no glimpse of his face. Aya did not hear anything more that was said, and fell into a fitful, but thankfully silent, sleep, filled with monsters in the night and a shining figure in the distance.
(X)
Another week went by without incident. Thorin was riding quite a way in front of the others and, ensuring that no one would follow him, Gandalf urged his horse into a trot, catching up with their brooding leader.
"I don't know if you've noticed," he began quietly, gaining Thorin's attention, "but someone has been following us since we left the Shire."
Thorin sat up quickly, jolting his pony. He soothed it, before turning to Gandalf, "no, I hadn't noticed." He sounded far from pleased, "why have you not spoken of this before?"
"Because they pose no threat."
"You know them?" Gandalf did not seem worried, so Thorin decided to listen to what he had to say instead of immediately planning an ambush.
"Yes. As do you." In fact, far from worried, a spark of humour glinted in the wizard's eye, "though you only met briefly, not too long ago."
Thorin frowned, thinking. Someone he had met recently? Who knew he was traveling from the Shire? A memory of curly hair flashed into his head, and a look of horror crossed his face as it dawned on him. "She hasn't?" He looked at Gandalf, willing him to tell him he was wrong, the odd protectiveness he felt for the little hobbit girl returning.
Gandalf nodded in confirmation however, and Thorin pulled his horse to a halt. "We must go back and get her. What was she thinking? Was it not made clear to her that she was not to follow?"
Gandalf had pulled up as well, turning his horse and watching the progress of the other thirteen who had fallen further back than he had first thought. "You said nothing to discourage her."
"I was not given the chance before she was sent from the house. But her uncle expressed his views on the matter."
"And she made her view clear on what she thought of his interference. I think what she intended was made perfectly apparent with what she said before leaving. Bilbo could not honestly have expected her to stay behind. But I don't think there is any need to seek her out just yet, she probably means to come to us when she feels the time is right."
"There are all manner of things out there that she will not be able to defend against on her own. We know for a fact that there is a group of orcs somewhere nearby." Thorin was sounding more panicked by the second, though he tried to hide his growing unease. "It is too dangerous for her to be out there on her own, Gandalf."
"Do not worry, she is being careful. The only reason I know she is following is because she sleeps so close to the camp at night," he smiled at the look of surprise on Thorin's face. "Yes, she has, for all intents and purposes, been sleeping with us. I have been able to watch out for her. She is in no more danger than we are."
"Still, I do not like the thought of her out there on her own."
"Nor do I, my dear fellow. But I wish to avoid the argument it is sure to cause between our two hobbits for as long as possible." At this he turned his horse again and continued on.
Thorin looked back, past his approaching companions, in the hopes of spotting the little hobbit he was becoming attached to…..
He shook the thought from his head. He had only met her once, very briefly, and therefore was not attached to her. As he rode forward though, he hoped that she would join them soon, so that he might have the opportunity to become so.
(X)
May was drawing to a close when the monotony of their journey was interrupted. His added worry for Aya, trailing behind where he could not see her, had made Thorin even more irritable of late. His band of dwarves could not fathom what had him so agitated, for the weather was fine and they were making good progress.
Gandalf, old and wise as he was, had noted the worry the dwarf had for the girl and thought he might have an inkling as to what was causing it. It did not excuse Thorin's thick-headedness however, in not heeding the advice of a wizard and when the argument came it was all Gandalf could do to get away without doing something drastic. He swung up onto his horse after a lament of the stubbornness of dwarves and rode off, leaving the party short of one wizard.
Fili and Kili walked the ponies a little way from the camp to tend to them. It was an hour or so before dawn when Bilbo brought them something to eat and they told him of the missing ponies. They went searching for answers with great trepidation. They didn't have to look too hard.
(X)
Gandalf had decided that it was time to fetch the runaway hobbit, whether she was ready to join them or not. With any luck, having her close would put a stop to Thorin's bad mood and he might be a little more open to suggestions. Heaven help them all if Gandalf had to put up with his surliness much longer.
He was surprised to find just how far behind them she was journeying, as it was a good half hour of retracing their steps before he finally spotted her walking along the path. "It must take you some time to catch up with us of an evening, you walking this far behind us."
Aya looked up, a little startled by the voice, but a smile soon lit her face, "I knew I wasn't going to be able to hide from you Gandalf. What gave me away?" She drew up to where he was standing, having dismounted his horse.
"I doubt I should have noticed if you had not been sleeping close by. It's a little trick I have, being able to pick up on presences, as long as they are not too far. I also somewhat expected that you would follow, you are very much like Bilbo in some respects."
She laughed a little at that. "Well, I didn't mean to hide myself for much longer. I was becoming quite tired of having to play catch up every night, and listening to the complaints of saddle sore. Several times I had to stop myself from stealing a pony just to show them how easy they had it! Anyway, it's much too late for Bilbo to send me back now," her eyes glinted with mischief at this, "I just didn't know how best to reveal myself."
"Yes well, I imagine he is going to be a little perturbed when he learns of this. And poor Thorin has been driving himself up the wall with worry; I hope he will settle down when you are traveling with us."
Aya raised her eyebrow, "he's been worried about me?"
"Yes, it's made him quite unbearable to live with," he grumbled.
She smiled to herself, "well, perhaps we best get moving then?"
Gandalf agreed. "Would you like to ride for a while?"
"That would be most welcome." She walked to a nearby tree stump and climbed on as Gandalf brought the horse over. Though still a little too short, Aya managed to swing herself into the saddle and they made their way to the dwarf camp.
(X)
Bilbo was trying his hardest to stall the trolls, having put two and two together to realise that they would turn to stone when exposed to sunlight. The dawn couldn't be far away.
"They've got worms. Worms in their….. tubes," that seemed to do the trick. The troll about to eat Bombur dropped the large dwarf in disgust. He rolled his eyes at the protests from behind him, but noticed when Thorin realised what he was doing and got the others to play along.
He didn't notice when a small figure slipped from behind the trees. Not until it spoke in any case, "that's right. In fact, it's the reason we were passing through here."
Bilbo spun around to see his young charge addressing the trolls, "Aya, what are you -"
"What reason's that then?" The most suspicious of the three trolls cut across Bilbo, his attention on Aya.
"I'm taking them into quarantine. They have to be isolated and treated for the infestation of tubular worms," she shot a slightly mocking look at Bilbo who, in turn, looked a little sheepish. "So I wouldn't eat them if I were you. These worms are particularly dangerous for trolls."
The trolls looked at one another, their minds turning slowly. The suspicious one also turned out to be the quickest thinker, "then what about you?"
"Err, what about me what?" She hadn't expected this.
"We can just eat you. Not much of yer, but still better than horse."
He started to make his way around the fire, reaching for Aya as she backed away, but booming voice halted him. "The dawn will be the end of you!" There was a loud crack and Aya and Bilbo shielded their eyes at the suddenly blinding sunlight.
When they looked up, not ten seconds later, all three of the trolls were nothing more than statues.
The dwarves started laughing and cheering in relief. Aya looked over at Thorin to see a smile spreading across his face which made her smile in turn. She soon sobered up though, at the prospect of having to face Bilbo.
She approached him slowly, not looking at his face for fear of meeting his eyes. She helped him out of the sack as Gandalf helped the dwarves and it wasn't until they were all free that she looked up to see that he was about to speak. Well, shout really, she supposed. But she didn't give him the chance to start.
Thorin stretched his arms out, finally able to move without restriction and allowed his eyes to sweep the disgruntled dwarfs until he found the two halflings. He made his way over and saw that Bilbo was about ready to explode. Before he could get a word in however, Aya placed her hands on her hips and her expression became so fierce that Thorin doubted even he would have had the courage to interrupt her.
"Now, there'll be none of that Bilbo Baggins! If you honestly expected me to stay behind after everything I said, then I question how close we actually are. To think that, even when I told you outright that I would be leaving one way or another, you still decided to go gallivanting off without a backwards glance. What on earth were you thinking? I don't suppose you even thought to leave me a note?" Bilbo's expression had started to wilt under her anger, and he looked very close to shuffling his feet in embarrassment. Thorin marvelled at the way she had been able to turn this argument around without Bilbo even being able to defend himself.
"I'll take your silence as a no. I'm very disappointed in you uncle," her voice turned soft, more upset now, than angry. "If you didn't want me to spoil your adventure you should have just said something. I suppose I could make it back by myself." She began to turn away.
Thorin almost shot forward to protest himself, before Bilbo spoke up, "no Aya. It's not that I think you would spoil it, you can't go back on your own."
"You don't think I'll ruin your fun?" She turned but looked at the ground, her demeanour timid and uncertain.
"No. I'm sorry I made you think that. You can come with us," he stepped forward and pulled her into a hug.
She looked up and caught Thorin looking at her. She smiled mischievously and winked. He just stood there for a moment, then smiled at the look of victory in her eyes. The other dwarves who had been watching, laughed quietly as they realised that their burglar had just been played.