Chapter 5 – Travelling and Trolls

The company left early the next morning leaving the Shire to take the first steps on the journey to reclaim Erebor. Ivy breathed deeply, content, as she rode atop her chestnut mare, after all, these years she had a viable chance to learn about her mother.

They left Bilbo behind and some, like Gandalf, felt like he may still show up. It soon became a game, bets were placed on whether or not the hobbit would end up showing. A bet that came down to a hobbit wanting to go on an adventure, something Ivy wasn't so sure was plausible, so in such, she believed it was a logical decision to bet against Bilbo.

"You shouldn't join in, in their tom-foolery." Thorin chided Ivy from on his pony as they rode alongside one another, shaking his head at his partner and fellow companions.

"Oh, Thorin, loosen up some. Besides its easy money, the hobbit won't show." Ivy insisted, her words slowly ceasing to nothing more than an idle whisper.

"What is it?" Thorin asked, having caught the change in her tone and stature.

"Ed' i'ear ar' elenea!(By the sea and stars!)" Ivy cursed out in utter disbelief, glancing over her shoulder.

"What is it?"

"The burglar joins us," Ivy breathed turning around further in the saddle as his voice rang out all for all to hear.

"Wait! Wait, I've signed it." Bilbo came running with his contract in hand waving in the wind above his head, the company stopped allowing him to catch up.

"What was that about, easy money?" Thorin chuckled, as Ivy was forced to throw a coin purse back to Gandalf, who caught it with ease.

"I do not believe it, a hobbit of the Shire going on an adventure! Well, nevertheless he'll find himself died by the end."

"Give him a pony," Thorin called, ignoring Ivy's grumbling, as he nudged his own pony along continuing on their path.

"No, no, no, no. That...that won't be necessary. Thank you. I'm sure I can keep up on foot. Yeah, I...I've done my fair share of walking holidays, you know? Even got as far as Frog Morton once." Ivy rolled her eyes at the hobbit as she heard him over the sounds of the horses. "Uh...wait, wait. Stop! Stop! We have to turn around." Bilbo's voice cut through the air, making everyone stop yet again though they have yet to reach the end of Shire lands.

"What on earth is the matter?" Gandalf demanded, asking what everyone surely had on their minds.

"I forgot my handkerchief."

Ivy's fist clenched, fingers already itching to grasp her bow, she instead forced herself to sigh dropping her head into her hands taking a glance towards Thorin, the warrior in her did not like the hobbits foolishness. "He will not make it through this quest alive."

"Move on!" Thorin yelled. "Aye, I don't believe so either."

Night rolled around and the company found a spot to set up camp along a cliff's edge, Gloin had started a fire for warmth and some had taken the chance and had fallen asleep already after a day's long ride.

Ivy moved to sit by the fire joining the remaining few who were still awake, when a shrill shrieking split through the silent night reaching the elf's ears she stood to nock an arrow, knowing her rest for the night was over she searched over the night's horizon.

"What was that?" Bilbo asked, glancing at Ivy before he turned to Kili and Fili, slowly Ivy lowered her bow with a smirk, sensing they were further off in the distance.

"Orcs," Kili answered Bilbo with a simple ease.

"Orcs?" Bilbo spluttered, his eyes glancing around nervously.

Thorin awoke from the orcs shrill cries echoing around the cool night's air, Ivy stood still with her bow ready should anything happen, she knew it would be her on watch.

"Throat cutters. There'd be dozens of them out there. The lowlands are crawling with them." Kili teased with a smirk, looking over to Fili.

"They strike, in the wee small hours, when everyone's asleep. Quick and quiet, no screams." Fili added, nudging Bilbo lightly in the arm.

"Just lots of blood," Ivy added lowering her voice to a serious low, making him jump.

Kili and Fili laughed as they watched a very worried Bilbo, Ivy chuckled to herself with a smirked taking a seat beside Kili.

The hobbit perhaps should not have left his home.

"You think that's funny? You think a night raid by orcs is a joke?" Thorin stood snapping at the three who sat still smirking.

"We didn't mean anything by it," Kili spoke, Fili nodded in agreement, though Ivy shrugged.

"As much of a joke as this, a hobbit out here on this journey."

"No, you didn't. You know nothing of the world." He snapped, glaring at Ivy before he walked off standing upon a large rock looking out into distance his back turned away from the others.

"Don't mind him, laddie. Thorin has more cause than most to hate orcs," Balin spoke preparing to tell a tale. "After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain, King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient dwarf kingdom of Moria. But our enemy had got there first. Moria had been taken by legions of orcs, led by the vilest of all their race, Azog the Defiler. The giant Gundabad orc had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin. He began by beheading the king. Thrain, Thorin's father, was driven mad by grief, he went missing, taken prisoner or killed, we did not know. We were leaderless. Defeat and death were upon us. That is when I saw him. A young dwarf prince facing down the Pale Orc. He stood alone against this terrible foe. His armor rent, wielding nothing but an oaken branch as a shield. Azog the Defiler learned that day, that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken. Our forces rallied, and drove the orcs back. Our enemy had been defeated, but there was no feast, nor a song that night for our dead was beyond the count of grief. We few, had survived. And I thought to myself then, there is one who I could follow, there is one I could call king."

By the end of Balin's tale all had stood facing Thorin out of respect, as he turned to face the company who bowed their heads. "Thanu men (my King)." Ivy breathed out in both gratitude and loyalty.

Others nodded, following her lead. "Aye," a few called before bowing "Thanu men!"

Thorin nodded, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips grateful for the gesture.

"And the pale orc? What happened to him." Bilbo asked ripe with curiosity.

"He slunk back into the hole whence he came. That filth died of his wounds long ago." Thorin informed Bilbo, Gandalf gave a curious look to Balin and like them, Ivy was not so sure Thorin's words were true.

Ivy leaned against Thorin gently as he took a seat beside her, "I am sorry, gajut men(forgive me.)" Grabbing the front of his tunic she pulled him into a kiss.

"Menu gajatu(Your forgiven)." He answered before laying down to rest.

Standing Ivy grabbed her bow once more, keeping watch throughout the night, they had all heard the orcs now it was her job to make sure a night raid didn't happen.

The rain poured around the company as they began their travel through the wooded area, falling in a constant sheet as thick and continuous as the complaining from many of the dwarves shivering from the cold. Thorin took a look at Ivy in his cold shivering state sending her a teasing glare as she sat upon her saddle relishing in the cool rain loving the feeling as it flowed down her skin, the elf being unaffected by the cold.

After the long night of keeping watch, knowing something was out there hearing them, waiting for an attack that never came was mentally exhausting and Ivy took the moment as she rode to relax her mind.

"Here, Mr. Gandalf? Can't you do something about this deluge?" Dori cried out from behind thoroughly annoyed by the rain and cold.

"It is raining, master dwarf. And it will continue to rain until the rain is done! If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another wizard." Gandalf tossed back, his own annoyance well hidden.

"Are there any?" Bilbo asked curiously from behind riding rather uncomfortably in the saddle of his pony.

"What?" Gandalf asked casually.

"Other wizards?"

"There are five us. The greatest of our order is Saruman, The White. Then there are the two blue wizards. Do you know, I've quite forgotten their names." Gandalf's voice trailed off slightly in thought.

"And who is the fifth?"

"Well, that would be Radagast, The Brown."

"Is he a great wizard or is he...more like you?"

"More like you..." Ivy laughed out her words broken up by her laughter. "Oh, Valar, because Gandalf isn't very great at all, is he…Ouch!" Ivy's laughter ended rather abruptly by a good hard whack over the head, graciously administered by Gandalf himself with the brunt of his staff. Slowing her horse, she fell in stride with Bilbo's pony. "Keep it up, hobbit, I may start liking you." Giving him a wink still lightly chuckling this time so Gandalf could not hear over the rain.

Gandalf sighed before he ignored all and finally answered Bilbo, "I think he's a very great wizard, in his own way. He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals to others. He keeps a watchful eye over the vast forest lands to the East, and a good thing too, for always evil will look to find a foothold in this world."

Bilbo nodding his head trudged along awkwardly on his pony.

"We'll camp here for the night. Fíli, Kíli, look after the ponies. Make sure you stay with them." Thorin's voice called throughout the clearing of an old ruined farm, jolting Ivy from her restful state.

"A farmer and his family used to live here," Gandalf said as he looked around a sadness in his heart for the family that once dwelled in the clearing.

"Oin, Gloin." Thorin boomed.

"Aye?" They returned.

"Get the fire going."

"Right you are." Oin answered, beginning to gather firewood.

"I think it would be wiser to move on. We could make for the hidden valley." Gandalf provided council to Thorin.

"I've told you already. I will not go near that place." His voice held an edge of disgust.

"Thorin, don't. Let's just hear Gandalf out."

Gandalf gave Ivy a small nod and smile, a thank you for her words. "Why not? The Elves could help us, we could get food, rest, advice."

"I do not need their advice." Thorin sneered in disgust.

"We have a map that we cannot read. Lord Elrond could help us." Gandalf snapped back.

"Thorin, consider it at least. What other choice do we have?" Ivy suggested through gritted teeth, the moment his disgust to her came out she always found herself getting defensive, she cared not for his hatred, nay, she held her own hatred towards elves, mainly towards those of the Woodland Realm, true.

"Help? A dragon attacks Erebor. What help came from the Elves? Orcs plunder Moria, desecrate our sacred halls, the Elves looked on and did nothing! You ask me to seek out the very people who betrayed my grandfather, who betrayed my father. And, since when did you so easily trust others, Ivy. You, yourself, elf or no, hold hate for them."

"You are neither your grandfather or father. I did not give you that map and key for you to hold on to the past." Gandalf grew angry with Thorin's stubbornness, his black and white view of things, at times.

"I did not know they were yours to keep," Thorin growled furiously.
"While I cannot deny that Thorin for they have done your family, all people of Erebor a great injustice but no one can say all elves are the same," Ivy snapped back angrily. "Or do you include me in those statements."

"Never!"

"Then listen to Gandalf, we may not have any other option."

"You say that because you wish to see Rivendell yourself," Thorin sneered, "You care not about reclaiming Erebor."

"Whether I do or not is irrelevant."

"So it is true, you seek Rivendell out for yourself."

Ivy's fist clenched together, "It should be no surprise, to what purpose would reclaiming Erebor have for me. It was just another hate filled time, a king who used me, people, who shunned me out of their lives for good by his command, a dragon who left me permanently scarred. Tell me why I should want to go back. So you will forgive me if I take my first true chance in over a hundred years to find something out about my mother, about me. So in other words to answer your question, yes, Thorin, I seek Rivendell a realm of elves who may know more. An elven city I might learn something in, so whether you go or not I will be."

"Fuck, Ivy. It's not that damn hard, you speak as though there was nothing that ever came from Erebor" Thorin cursed through clenched teeth, storming through the grounds he turned his back on her. How could she hate it so, it was where he grew to love her, he wanted to reclaim it for her as much as he wanted to reclaim it for himself.

Ivy threw her hands up in the air storming the other way. How could he not understand? She had to find this truth, to find the truth could be freedom, freedom from her mother's fate that tied onto her. To know, to finally understand she could find a way to be at peace with it, to begin to put it in the past, then and only then she could truly allow herself to settle down.

Ivy took to an old fallen tree resting there away from the others, staring up at the stars as she listened to the soft breeze in the leaves focusing on her breathing, enjoying the silence the time to think without Thorin and his nagging opinions in which involve him being right all the time, but her silence was too soon broken.

"Trolls," Fili and Kili's voice broke through the air, Ivy jumped from her spot grasping her bow running towards them as everyone gathered their weapons they made their way into the forest following the young dwarf's lead. They led the rest of the company to a row of bushes before taking a step back letting Thorin decide what was to be done.

Raising his sword Thorin charged through the bush, the attack didn't last long before a pair of the trolls had grasped Bilbo holding him outstretched by both arms and legs. "Lay down your arms! Or we'll rip his off!" One of the three trolls sneered.

Ivy stared over at Thorin waiting for his lead, an arrow nocked and ready, though feeling reluctant she had sworn from the begin the hobbit would cause nothing but problems, and now look at them. Ivy sneered as Thorin dropped his sword to the ground the others followed suit, Ivy hesitated considering disobeying the order. With a shake of her head, Ivy threw her weapons down.

"If I ever get out of this, I'll kill you myself, hobbit." Ivy sneered from the sack she had been tied up in by the trolls, her eyes glancing to those who were tied up on a spit twirling over the fire.

"Don't bother cooking 'em! Let's just sit on 'em and squash 'em into jelly!"

"They should be sauteed and grilled with a sprinkle of sage."

"Oh, that does sound quite nice."

"Never mind the seasoning, we ain't got all night! Dawn ain't far away, let's get a move on! I don't fancy been turned to stone." The trolls bickered endlessly in the background, Ivy did everything within her power to try and free herself to no avail.

"Wait! You are making a terrible mistake." Bilbo jumped up hopping around in his bag, Ivy raised her eyebrows shocked by the hobbits actions.

"You can't reason with them, they're half-wits!" Dori called out.

"Half-wits? What does that make us?" Bofur said.

"I meant with the...uh, with the...with the seasoning," Bilbo spoke, Ivy pulled her lips into a thin line, eyes narrowing as she watched him converse with the trolls.

"What about the seasoning?"

"Well, have you smelt them? You're gonna need something stronger than sage before you plate this lot up!"

Every dwarf and elf cried out, cursing the hobbit companion.

"What do you know about cooking dwarf?"

"Shut up, and let the...uh, flurgerburbur-hobbit talk."

"Uh...the-the secret to cooking dwarf is um..."

"Yes? Come on."

"It's, uh..."

"Tell us the secret!"

"Ye-yes, I'm telling you. The secret is...to...skin them first!"

Hollers growing louder and more furious at his words, "You wait till I get my hands on you." Ivy screamed.

"Tom, get me the filleting knife."

"What a load of rubbish! I've eaten plenty with their skins on. Scoff 'em I say, boots and all!"

"He's right! Nothing wrong with a bit o' raw dwarf." The troll picked up Gloin's sack, Ivy watched Bilbo when her eyes caught a glimpse of an old grey wizard scurrying behind a tree. Ivy shook her, looking to Bilbo with raised eyebrows suddenly it dawned on her what it was he was trying to do, and truth be told she felt foolish she had not thought of it herself.

"Nice and crunchy," one mused picking Gloin up, opening his mouth open wide.

"Uh...not...not that one, he...he's infected!" Bilbo cried out just in time.

"You what?"

"Yeah he's got worms in his...tubes," he improvised.

"Ooh!" With that Gloin went flying back onto the pile, groaning and grunting out in pain at his impact.

"In…in fact, they all have. They're infested with parasites, it's a terrible business, I wouldn't risk it, I really wouldn't."

"Parasites? Did he say parasites?"

"Yeah, we don't have parasites!" Kili hollered to Bilbo annoyed, "You have parasites!"

Ivy turned to Thorin with stern look glancing at Kili, he gave him a hard kick realizing what Bilbo was up to.

"I've got parasites as big as my arm!" Oin called out picking up on the situation.

"Mine are the biggest parasites, I've got huge parasites!" Kili challenged.

"We're riddled!" Nori joined in.

"Yes, I'm riddled!" Ori followed.

"Yes, we are, badly!"Dori offered.

"What would you have us do then? Let 'em all go?" A troll sneered leering over Bilbo, jabbing his small body with his thick finger.

"Well..."

"You think I don't know what you're up to. This little ferret is taking us for fools!"

"Ferret?"

"Thank the Valar!" Ivy sighed seeing Gandalf rise above a large boulder, she couldn't help but let a smile grace her lips.

"The dawn will take you all!" Gandalf called out through the clearing.

"Who's that?"

"No idea."

"Can we eat him too?"

In a flawless motion Gandalf rose his staff breaking the cliff he stood on letting the rising sun's light in, the trolls screeched as the sun hit them turning to stone.

Ivy stood from the ground as Gandalf helped everyone free of the bags, with a stretch she headed to collect her weapons passing Bilbo she gave him a pat on the back. "Quick thinking." Ivy acknowledged, though she never ceased in her walking or turned to look him in the eye. Bilbo stood stunned for a moment, nodding to himself with a smile before continuing on his way.

"Where did you go to, if I may ask?" Thorin demanded of Gandalf.

"To look ahead."

"What brought you back?"

"Looking behind. Nasty business. Still, they all are in one piece."

"No, thanks to your burglar."

"He had the nous to play for time. None of the rest of you thought of that." Gandalf added, staring at the now stone trolls. "They must have come down from the Ettenmoors."

"Since when did mountain trolls venture this far south?" Ivy asked Gandalf as she eyed the trolls with curiosity.

"Oh, not for an age. Not since a darker power ruled these lands," Gandalf mused more to himself than any of the company, he paused a hand stroking his beard in thought. "They could not have moved in daylight."

"There must be a cave nearby," Thorin said suddenly walking away, Ivy huffed in annoyance as she and the remaining company followed after.

Author's Note; Well for starters; Happy New Years, to all my lovelies. I hope you guys enjoy this update, already working on six but there are some big changes in this chapter as well, but its getting there. Phew!

Thank you

Aquafin - Hello mellon, feels like its been forever! Thank you very much, I am truly glad to here it! Phew, I'm making her a little rougher than original, so I'm glad to hear it!

thewolf74 -
Thank you very much, hope you continue to enjoy! (Spoiler, their relationship gets a continuously worse as he spirals further like his Grandfather.)

Thank you to for the follow, and favourite!

DracoMalfoySecretWife-
Thank you, next shall be shortly lol! Thank you, I try to remember, (I have forgotten a few times lol) Oh, what are you working on? Let me know when you do, will totally go check it out! :D

Aranel Silvertongue -
Thank you for the follow! Hope you continue to enjoy!