Chapter Six
The next morning, everyone already had woken up, except for Bilbo and Bernadette. Both of them overslept. What angered Bernadette however, was Thorin never came to her room to wake her. She walked out and she saw Bilbo looking over the contract. "Where are they?" asked Bernadette. "They already left, Bernadette." said Bilbo. "Bilbo, I have to get going, or they'll leave without me!" said Bernadette quickly, rushing to get her belongings. "Wait, Bernie! You're not going alone. I'm coming with you!" said Bilbo. "You changed your mind?" said Bernadette.
"I still don't trust that dwarf, and I don't like the fact you being alone with all thirteen dwarves." said Bilbo. "Bilbo!" said Bernadette. "Come on! Don't just stand there! We're going to be late!" said Bilbo. And the both took off running, hoping they would make it time before Gandalf, Thorin and his companions depart. Luckily, they saw the company still there. "Wait! Wait!" called out Bilbo, waving his contract, with Bernadette following him. "I'm sorry we're late. I over slept." said Bernadette. While Bilbo gave the contract to Balin, Thorin signaled Bernadette to walk over to him. "You'll be riding with me. Where were you?" asked Thorin.
"Didn't you just hear me earlier? I over slept, I'm sorry about that. That was my own fault for staying up late." smirked Bernadette, as Thorin helped Bernadette mount the pony. "Welcome to the Company of Thorin Oakenshield!" said Balin. "Give him a pony!" said Thorin. Bernadette laughed as she watched Fili and Kili lift up her brother, placing him on a pony. She remembered that he was allergic to horse hair. Bilbo scowled as he noticed his sister sharing a pony with Thorin. "I swear if he lays a hand on her." growled Bilbo loudly. "What are you talking about, lad?" asked Bofur.
"Your leader and my sister." said Bilbo. "Oh, Bilbo. There's nothing going on between them. And if there is, be happy for them. She's a grown lass." said Bofur. Bilbo snorted, and rolled his eyes, suddenly he sneezed loudly. "Wait! Stop!" called out Bilbo. "Oh, for the love of.." Bernadette hearing Thorin grumble. "What's wrong, brother?" asked Bernadette sharply. "I forgot my handkerchiefs." the hobbit replied. "Here!" said Bofur, tossing a cloth from his jacket to the hobbit. "Actually, luckily, I remembered that I brought some!" said Bernadette. "Oh thank you, Bernie! You're a life saver!" said Bilbo, as he received the handkerchiefs.
"Moving on!" said Thorin, and they continued on their journey.
"No offense, Bernadette, but your brother can be a real pain in the ass." said Thorin. "I knew that. But he's my favorite pain in the rear." grinned Bernadette. "Wait a minute. I thought I was your favorite?" joked Thorin. "Bilbo' my brother. Family is top priority on my list in that area." said Bernadette. Thorin chuckled and nodded. They rode on for some time, when early evening arrived, they stopped to camp. As Bernadette set out her bedroll, Bilbo approached her. "Bernadette, may I have a word with you?" said Bilbo.
"What about?" asked Bernadette. "I noticed you and Thorin had been rather close here of late, and I don't like it one bloody bit." said Bilbo. "Bilbo, I don't like how you're talking to me like that. I have every right to speak to Thorin." said Bernadette, sharply. "After the way he treated you back at home? Mark my words, Bernie, its going to get worse! That dwarf never liked me, and to be honest, he doesn't like you either. He finds us useless and defenseless!" said the hobbit hotly. "Bilbo, I understand as a brother, you want to protect me, but I'm grown hobbit, and I have a right to speak to whomever I please." said Bernadette.
"Are you and Thorin courting?" asked Bilbo. When Bernadette heard this, she gave her brother a sharp, angry glance.
"Bilbo! That is too personal of a question to ask! And second of all, Thorin and I are NOT courting!" snapped Bernadette loudly. "You don't need to raise your voice at me. I see the way you look at him." shot back Bilbo. "Just leave me alone, Bilbo!" snapped Bernadette. "Fine." said Bilbo. "Fine!" snapped Bernadette, folding her arms across her chest. "What was all that about?" asked Fili. "An argument between two siblings, pal." snapped Bernadette. Fili fell silent, and decided to let it go. He really didn't want to know what their argument was about.
While Bernadette sat alone quietly, she could hear Fili and Kili talk about orc raids, she caught on to their little storytelling, just to try and scare Bilbo. But she also knew that orc raids aren't funny at all, and she bit her tongue from protesting, but it was Thorin who spoke up about it. "You think that's funny? You think orc raids are a joke?!" said Thorin sharply, as he paced back and forth in front of them. "We didn't mean anything by it." said Kili softly. "You know nothing of this world!" snapped Thorin, and he marched away from them.
"Woa, that was harsh." mumbled Bernadette. Balin then began telling a story to Fili and Kili on why their Uncle hated orcs so much. Bernadette listened in on the tale. As she listened, her heart ached, and she felt so sad for Thorin.
Bernadette looked over at the dwarf leader, who's back was towards them. She wanted to go talk to him, but something held her back, and she decided to stay put. "What of the Pale Orc? What became of him?" asked Bilbo. "The orc scum died in his filth years ago." scowled Thorin, as he walked back joining the company, and he sat down not to far from Bernadette. "I don't mean to pry, Miss Baggins, but why were you and your brother arguing earlier?" asked Ori. "I really don't want to discuss it right now, Ori." said Bernadette. "I'm sorry." said Ori, quietly.
"Miss Baggins, a word with you a minute?" said Thorin, looking over at Bernadette. Bernadette, and she walked over, and she sat next to Thorin. "What about? If its about the argument with my brother earlier, I told everyone before, I don't want to talk about it." said Bernadette, sharply. "That's not what I was going to talk to you about. Besides that, its between you and Bilbo, not me." said Thorin, assuringly. "What is it you want to talk to me about?" asked Bernadette. "Never mind, its not worth talking about." said Thorin quickly. "Thorin, if you wish to talk, TALK!" said Bernadette, impatiently.
"Bernadette, I liked you since the day we met at the Prancing Pony. And I fell for you since. Bernadette, you are an extraordinarily beautiful woman, and what I'm trying to say is, if you have the honors of courting me?" asked Thorin. Hearing these words struck the hobbit maiden. She always liked Thorin, in fact, she loved him. And it delighted her that their feelings for each other are mutual. But then, there was a road block. Her over protective older brother. "Bernadette, what's wrong?" asked Thorin. "Its my brother, Thorin. He doesn't approve of you. If he found out we're courting, he wouldn't approve us together at all." said Bernadette.
"Well then he has to get over it! You, my dearest, Bernadette, are a grown woman, you have every right to court whoever you please. He has to learn to let go." said Thorin. "Try telling hi that." mumbled Bernadette. "But I believe it is wise that you tell him of this. He may not approve, but he has every right to know." said Thorin. "What of the others? How would they feel about us? I'm worried they will side with Bilbo." said Bernadette. "No, they won't Bernadette. They know when they see me happy, it makes them happy. I'm sure my kin folk will approve of us." said Thorin, kindly.
The two sat in silence for a little while. "When are you going to tell Bilbo?" asked Thorin.
"I'm going to tell him tomorrow." said Bernadette. Thorin smiled, and he kissed Bernadette gently on the lips. "Good night, my Bernadette!" whispered Thorin. "Good night, Thorin!" Bernadette replied back, and she climbed into her bed roll. All though she felt sleep coming on, she remained awake for a little bit, deciding how she would tell her brother the news of her and Thorin's courtship. Finally after getting tired of racking her brain, sleep came over her, and she drifted off. The next morning, it was raining pretty much of the day, which made everyone feeling a bit miserable. She noticed Bilbo had the grumps, and she could hear him mumbling, wishing he was back in the comforts of his hobbit hole.
She decided now wasn't the time to tell him since she can see he was rather grouchy, fearing he would snap at her. She could hear Dori griping about the rain, and she couldn't help but chuckle at Gandalf's reply, and the topic shortly turned to wizards, when Bilbo asked if there other wizards like Gandalf. Later, they arrived in a large clearing with an old abandoned farm house nearby. Thorin called to the others, that they will make camp for the night. "Oin, Gloin! Start the fire. Fili, Kili! You have pony duty!" said Thorin. "Again?" said Kili. "Come, Kili! Don't try and pick a fight with Uncle." said Fili, and the two walked away.
Bernadette approached her brother. "Bilbo, do you have a minute?" asked Bernadette. Bilbo smiled at his sister. "Yes. What is it, Bernie?" asked Bilbo. "Well, I have something to tell you, but please. Please, please, please do not get angry." said Bernadette. "Why would I get angry? It couldn't be that bad can't it?" said Bilbo. "Actually it all depends on how you feel of it." said Bernadette. "Will you please just tell me what you're trying to say?" said Bilbo. "Bilbo, Thorin offered me his hand in courtship, and I accepted the offer. He was going to ask me when we talked in Ered Luin, but that is when I left him over the silly mishap between the dwarves." said Bernadette.
Wait for it-he's going to explode, Bernadette thought. But to her surprise, Bilbo didn't get angry at all. In fact, his eyes lit up with delight, and a biggest grin she had ever seen on him, appeared on his face. "Bernadette, I'm so happy for you!" chirped the hobbit, and he embraced her. Bernadette looked quite confused. She thought Bilbo never trusted Thorin. "I don't understand, Bilbo…You're not upset?" said Bernadette, after they broke their embrace. "No! No! Not the slightest. Bernadette, at first, I didn't like or trust Thorin. But after being out on the road a while, and hearing his story, I'm considering him as my friend now. And I'm happy that you're with him, Bernadette, because it would make him happy, and less grumpy." said Bilbo. Bernadette laughed. "Yes, you got a point there, brother." said Bernadette, and she hugged Bilbo once more. "Well, I better take these two bowls of soup to Fili and Kili. They're probably wondering what is taking me so long." said Bilbo. And Bilbo walked away. Bernadette joined the others for supper, and she could over hear Gandalf and Thorin having a heated debate about Elves.