Chapter 3

We rose early the next morning and set off, though the hobbit was not among us. I looked over at Gandalf and gave him a questioning look. All he did was smile and nod. I should have known better then to expect a straight answer from him. We set off across the Shire and thus our journey began.

Along the way the dwarves began to take wagers as to whether or not the hobbit would show.

"How about you lass?" Bofur asked.

I looked to him.

"I do not wish to be part of this thank you." I replied.

He only nodded and the others took their sides. Gandalf himself said that the hobbit would show. And of course, he did.

"Wait!"

We all stopped and I turned to find a small hobbit with light brown hair running towards us. In his hand he held a long scroll of parchment and he stopped in front of Balin.

"I signed it." He claimed.

He handed it to Balin and he read it over before smiling.

"Everything seems to be in order. Welcome Mr. Baggins to the company of Thorin Oakenshield."

Master Baggins looked to each of us and I smiled and bowed my head respectfully.

"Give him a pony." Thorin said.

"Oh no! I walk faster with my own two legs…..OH!"

I quickly turned to find that Master Baggins had been lifted from the ground by Fili and Kili and then placed on a pony. I smiled and shook my head.

Dwarves…always fun to drink with and ever entertaining.

Bofur began to throw pouches of gold to those who had won the wager.

"What is that all about?" questioned the hobbit.

"They took wagers, as to whether or not you would show. Many of them thought you would not." answered the wizard.

"And what did you think?"

Gandalf was silent before swiftly catching his pouch of gold. I smiled and he began to laugh.

"I never doubted you for a moment my dear fellow."

After a while the hobbit let out a sneeze. He then started to search through his pockets.

"Wait! Stop! Stop!"

"What is it now?"

"We must go back. I have forgotten my pocket handkerchief." He stated.

This hobbit had clearly never left his home before.

"Here!"

I watched as Bofur took a piece of his own clothing and tossed it to Mr. Baggins. I smiled at the look upon his face.

"You shall have to do without pocket handkerchiefs and a great deal of other things before we reach this journey's end Bilbo Baggins. You were born to the little river and rolling hills of the Shire, but you must leave those behind you. For the world is far greater then that of which you are accustom." Gandalf said.

I smiled at this comment, but otherwise remained silent. Among strangers I rarely uttered a word.

We stopped near a small cave and rested there for the night. Most were asleep. I leaned against the rock wall and gazed upon the stars. I watched the hobbit sneak an apple to his pony. I smirked and closed my eyes, until I heard the sound of orcs. I stood straight and Mr. Baggins looked fearful.

"What was that?" He asked.

"Orcs." Fili said.

The poor hobbit looked to them in fear.

"Orcs?"

"Aye, must be having a night time raid. That is how they do it. Sneak up on you."

Mr. Baggins looked about ready to fall over. Fili and Kili began to chuckle and then Thorin came forward angrily.

"You think yourselves funny? You think a night-raid by orcs is a joke?!"

"We meant nothing by it." Kili said.

"No you did not. You know nothing of the world." He said.

He walked off near the ponies and I watched him. Something in his voice….it told me he was in pain. Not physical pain, but more or less emotional. Like when one remembers a sad time in their life.

"Worry not laddie. Thorin has more then enough reasons to hate orcs." came Balin's voice.

I turned and looked at the old dwarf. He stared at Thorin and then sighed sadly.

"What happened? I too despise the orcs but….I can hear it in his voice when he speaks of them, and I can see it in his eyes. The pain of some far distant memory." I whispered.

"After we had lost Erebor, Thror sought to reclaim the Mines of Moria. But we were not the only one's. Orcs were there and we fought a long and bloody battle. They were led by Azog the Defiler, the Pale Orc." said the old dwarf.

I looked over to Thorin. His hands were folded behind his back and he did not turn, though I knew heard us.

"He sought to end the line of Durin, and he began, by beheading our king…..he held it high for all to see."

I saw Thorin tense up at the mentioning of his grandfather's death.

"That was when I first saw him. A young dwarf fought against the Pale Orc, with no more then an oak log for a shield. He took off Azog's arm and he withdrew back into the black pit from whence he came. Though the battle was won no feast nor celebration was held, for our losses were great. And there I saw him stand. And as I looked upon him I thought 'There! There is one I could follow! That I could call king.'"

The others woke and were now looking upon Thorin. He turned and looked at us but I could see the hatred for Azog in his eyes.

"What happened to him? The Pale Orc?" Mr. Baggins questioned.

"That filth died from his wounds long ago." Thorin growled.

He walked past all of us and I sighed. I had never truly lost anyone in my life so I could not imagine the pain he held. However from the way he reacted to Balin's story I knew it was an incurable pain. I leaned up against the wall once more and for the first time in my life I wondered who my parents had been. Why had they abandoned me?