"Trolls are slow in the uptake, and mighty suspicious about anything new to them."

~ J.R.R Tolkien

The next day, it rained- the kind of rain that soaked into your clothes and seemed to seep even further, until even your bones were drowning. Everyone was wet and grumpy, and there was none of the previous merriment that I had almost gotten used to. "Here, Mr. Gandalf, can't you do something about this deluge?" Dori asked from behind us, voicing all of our concerns. We were riding the same as we had previously, though Kili's body heat added to mine really didn't add any extra warmth, and if anything his soaked form only served to make me feel even colder.

The wizard shook his head, tipping his hat so that a trickle of rainwater spilled off the brim. "It is raining, Master Dwarf, and it will continue to do so until the rain is done." It was such a simple question answered in such a smart alecky way that it almost seemed funny, and I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing. "If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another wizard."

"Are there any?" Bilbo questioned from nearby, sounding curious. I leaned forward also, peering over Kili's shoulder, and I could see the corners of Faye's mouth turn upwards in a small smile. She probably had the whole conversation memorized, knowing her. Gandalf looked confused. "Other wizards," the hobbit clarified.

"There are five of us," Gandalf told him. "The greatest of our order is Saruman, the White." Any guesses on what color that guy wore? "Then there are the two blue wizards." He paused, looking puzzled. "Do you know, I've quite forgotten their names."

"Alatar and Pallando," Faye called out from behind Fili. Knew it.

Gandalf nodded, still looking lost in thought. "And the fifth?" I asked, jolting him to the present. I actually wanted to know the answer, trying to expand my Middle Earth knowledge. Not that I could ever know as much as my little sister, but... still.

"Well that would be Radagast the Brown," Gandalf answered. Wait, wasn't that Bird Poop Guy? On the movie posters? I looked at Faye who nodded slightly, reading my mind as usual. Hmm. Maybe I am a little smart.

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

I snorted into Kili's back. Gandalf looked mildly offended, ignoring me. "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."

Later that day, when the rain had stopped and we had gotten the chance to dry out a bit, Thorin stopped us by the remains of what looked like a farmhouse. It looked like it had been smashed apart, which in a land where anything was possible- such as Middle Earth- wouldn't have surprised me. "We'll camp here for the night," the company leader announced. "Fili, Kili, look out over the ponies. Make sure you stay with them." They nodded as we all dismounted, with everyone setting up like we had what seemed like millions of times before. A rather somber mood had descended upon the company. I was fairly certain that something bad was about to happen- something involving sunlight- but I couldn't remember for sure, and Faye was obviously no help.

Gandalf had pulled Thorin aside and was talking to him, in a heated argument judging by the way they both were glaring and Gandalf was waving his hands around as he spoke. After a bit the wizard stormed off angrily, all but ignoring Bilbo's inquiry of where he was going and snapping his answer as he strode away. I watched after him and then turned to Faye. "What happened?" I whispered. "And what's going to?" She just looked troubled.

The sun was sinking low, and the wizard still hadn't returned. Bilbo was pacing nervously, though it didn't seem like that much of a problem that Gandalf was gone. I mean, there were thirteen sword and axe-wielding dwarves to protect us. Was that not enough?

Most of the dwarves, though, were either half asleep or dozing. Faye and I were wide awake, her for some obscure reason I didn't know yet and me for the same. It seemed to me that something bad was going to happen while we were camped near that farmhouse- though she wouldn't tell me what it was, or even that something was about to happen. I didn't know why, though I figured it was her being younger and expecting me to know. Even though she definitely knew that I didn't.

"Here, take this to the lads," Bofur said to the pacing hobbit, handing him two bowls of stew. With one more glance in the direction Gandalf had gone, he set off.

"I'll go with him!" Faye practically screamed, jumping up and scampering after Bilbo. I snorted as they disappeared into the distance, knowing perfectly well that she just wanted to see Fili.

A bit later we heard crashing coming from the direction they had went. Everyone sprang into action, grabbing their weapons and pointing them at the invisible enemy. My stomach tightened. My sister was over there. Fili and Kili burst through the trees and everyone relaxed, until Fili screamed, "TROLLS! Trolls! They've got Bilbo!"

"What about my sister?" I asked, taking a frightened step forward.

And that was when Kili said the most horrible, bone-chilling, heart-stopping words I had ever heard up until that point, besides 'there's been an accident' when we found out our parents were dead.

"They got her."