Chapter 4
Moving Out

I woke up to the first sun rays hitting my face. The memories of last night came to me. I Sat up to see the dwarves starting to wake up. Anna was up talking with Fili. I saw a braid in her hair. The courting braid of the elves. I envied my best friend, but was happy for her. I shook Stacia awake. She grumbled, not being a morning person, but got up.

"I see you got up finally." Thorin said. I shot him a glare.

"Mom. Can I ride with Kili?" Stacia asked after we ate.

"If he's fine with it." I said.

"Its fine." Kili said. We head outside where ponies and three horses were. I came up to a black horse and rubbed its nose, gently. I grew up riding horses, so I was happy to have one again.

"Stacia. Behave." I said.

"I will mom." Stacia said as Kili put her on his pony. I put my foot in the stirrup and pulled myself up onto the horse. We started moving out. I rode next to Anna.

"So. You and Fili." I said with a playful smirk.

"I know. I'm surprised. Come on girl. What about you and Thorin. OW." Anna said, as I smacked her arm. Thorin shot us a glare.

"I don't know about that." I said.

"Give it time. He's a good man." Anna said. I nod.

"Hey. Mariah. Want to make a bet about Bilbo showing up or not?" Kili asked.

"Sure. I bet 20 gold coins that he shows up." I said.

"Deal." Kili said. Anna and I shot knowing smiles at each knowing that I was going to win the bet. I heard my daughter's giggles as Kili kept her entertained with his humor. Stacia caught my eye and smiled bright. I returned the smile. Fili rode next to Anna while Kili rode in front of us. I wanted to pull out a book and just read to pass the time. Some of the dwarves were singing as they rode.

"Wait! Wait!" Bilbo yelled. We all stopped and I turned my horse. The whole Company was stopped and looked at Bilbo as he came waving the contract. "I signed it." Bilbo handed the contract to Balin, who took out his glasses and looked at it.

"Everything appears to be in order. Welcome, Master Baggins, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield." Balin said. Cheers went through the dwarves. Anna and I smiled.

"Give him a pony." Thorin said, not sounding impressed. We started moving as Bilbo complained.

"No, no, no, that won't be necessary. I'm sure I can keep up on foot. I've done my fair share of walking holidays, you know. I even got as far as Frogmorton once. Wagh!" Bilbo said as Fili and Kili grabbed him and put him on a pony. I shook my head. Anna and I moved up.

"Come on, Nori, pay up." Oin called. Dwarves started tossing pouches.

"Hey Kili. You owe me." I call. Kili grumbled and tossed back a pouch. I caught it with ease and put it into my bag as we continued on. We rode. I knew Gandalf was talking to Bilbo of why the dwarves were tossing coins around.

"Least you won the bet." Anna said.

"Well we knew he was gonna come." I whisper. Anna nodded.

"No, wait, wait, stop! Stop! We have to turn around." Bilbo called out. We all stopped and I saw the angry look on Thorin.

"What on earth is the matter?" Gandalf asked.

"I forgot my hankerchief." Bilbo said. Bofur pulled out a filthy hankerchief and tossed it to Bilbo.

"Here! Use this." Bofur said. Bilbo doesn't look thrilled as the dwarves laughed.

"Move out." Dwalin said. We continued to move on. Stacia switched from Kili to me later on during the ride and curled up close to take a nap. I smiled and kissed her forehead. We stopped for the night. I sat near the fire, leaning against the rock. Stacia was curled up with her head in my lap, sleeping. I ran my hand through her hair. Anna and Fili were sitting together and Kili right next to them. Thorin was not far from me. I noticed him doze off after a while. I watched Bilbo stand up and head over to the ponies. I picked up the book that I had read to Stacia and marked the spot as I put a blanket over her to keep her warm. An orc screech came and I looked up.

"What was that?" Bilbo asked.

"Orcs." Kili said. I watched as Thorin jerk awake at the sound of orc.

"Orcs." Bilbo said, running over to us.

"Throat-cutters. There'll be dozens of them out there. The lowlands are crawling with them." Fili said.

"They strike in the wee hours, when everyone's asleep. Quick and quiet, no screams, just lots of blood." Kili said. Anna and I shared glances as Bilbo look frightened and Fili and Kili laughed about it. Thorin stood up and came over.

"You think that's funny? You think a night raid by orcs is a joke?" Thorin asked. I looked at him. His eyes were mainly on his nephews.

"We didn't mean anything about it." Kili said.

"No, you didn't. You know nothing of the world." Thorin said, walking off towards the cliff near the ponies. I watched him walk off, wanting to comfort him or something. Balin came over.

"Don't mind him, laddie. Thorin has more cause than most to hate orcs." Balin said. Fili looked back at Thorin. I was also watching him. His hands were behind his back as he stared off into the distance. "After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain, King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient dwarf kingdom of Moria. But our enemy got there first." I remembered the scene from the movie like it was yesterday as Balin told us the story. "Moria had been taken by legions of Orcs led by the most vile of all their race: Azog the Deflier. The giant Gundobad Orc had sworn to whipe out the line of Durin. He began by beheading the King." I looked at Balin, who looked at me. I didn't flinch, but I looked back at Thorin. "Thrain, Thorin's father, was driven mad by grief. He went missing, taken prisoner or killed, we didn't 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 the terrible foe, his armor rent, wielding nothing by an oaken branch as a shield. Azog the Deflier, 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 song, that night, for our dead were 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."

Thorin turned to face us and all the company, but Fili, Kili, Anna, Gandalf, Stacia, and I, were standing. Thorin nodded and started walking back.

"But the pale orc? What happened to him?" I ask.

"He slunk back into the hole whence he came. That filth died of his wounds long ago." Thorin said, going to his bedroll. Anna and I shared glances and I saw Balin and Gandalf pass a look. We knew that the Pale Orc was still alive, but we didn't want to get into a fight with Thorin about it. I laid Stacia down on my bedroll that I share with her. I laid watching her sleep. I looked up at the sky and let out a sigh as I join my daughter in peaceful slumber.

AN: There's the first chapter. Hope you liked. :)