Restania smiled and climbed off the pony she had been riding as Bilbo ran up smiling. "I signed it" he said as he handed the contract to Balin.
Balin took it pulling out his reading glass and looking closely at the signature upon it. "Everything appears to be in order, Welcome master Baggins to the company of Thorin Oakenshield".
Bilbo smiled looking around. He noticed that Restania had left her pony and was standing next to Thorin's. He was astonished when the king offered his hand to help her onto the back of his pony.
"Give him the pony" Thorn said as he started off this time with Restania behind him.
"No, No, No that won't be necessary im sure I can keep up. I've done my fair share of walking holidays, even made it as far as Frog Morton once." As he said this he was picked up by Thorin's nephews and dropped on to Myrtle.
"He looks uncomfortable" Restania said smiling to Thorin
"He is out of his element I am still not sure what good he is suppose to do on this journey" He snapped out.
"I'm glad he came" Then she turned slightly to look behind her missing the disbelieving look Thorin had thrown her way and grinning said "Bofur I do believe you owe me something do you not"
Thorin turned slightly in confusion to see her catching a bag from mid air. She threw it in the air once catching it, the sound of coins jingling.
"What were you betting on" he asked her. She was saved from answering by Bilbo asking Gandalf the same question.
"What's all that about then" Bilbo asked
"Oh they took wages on whether you would turn up. Most of them bet you wouldn't."
"And what did you think"
Gandalf paused for a moment and then caught a sack thrown at him. "My dear fellow I never doubted you for a second."
"So you bet the Halfling would come, it seems you were right" Thorin said coldly. She could feel him tense slightly
"Do not take it personally I simply figured that since Gandalf was so insistent that we leave his contract in plain view that he knew what he was doing and that our burglar would show"
Thorin relaxed slightly "It was a smart wager." She beamed at him just as she heard Bilbo sneezed "Oh this horse hair must be having a reaction," He said as he searched his pockets
"No stop, stop" They all paused thinking something was wrong and in Bilbo's mind there was
"We have to turn around"
"What on earth is the matter?" Gandalf asked what all were thinking.
"I forgot my handkerchief" Bilbo replied.
"Here use this." Bofur tore a piece of his outer shirt off throwing it to Bilbo who caught with a look of disgust.
"Move on" Thorin commanded "That Halfling will be our death" he muttered so only Restania could here
"Oh he is not so awful I believe he will prove useful in the long run"
She watched Bofur fall back to speak to the hobbit "Bofur seems to have taken quite a liking to him" Thorin glanced back to see she was correct he was already teasing the Halfling much more then he should for having just met him.
"Thank you for the "handkerchief" it was very kind" Bilbo said to Bofur teasingly
"Oh it was nothing" Bofur replied grinning back
"You will have to manage pocket handkerchiefs and good many other things Bilbo Baggins before we reach our journeys end. You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the shire but home is far behind you and the world is ahead" Gandalf told him
"And a beautifully dangerous world it is too, full of the most beautiful and most terrible things you can dream of." Restania added
Thorin smiled and though she couldn't see it see could hear it when he said "You can be quite eloquent with your words when the need arises, such an asset is not very often seen."
She laughed something Thorin hadn't heard yet, it was a beautiful throaty sound that came from her very soul "Eloquent is a word I have never heard associated with me but I will thank you for the kind words"
He looked back smiling and met her eyes with his. "You should smile more often it lights up your eyes beautifully"
The words had slipped out her mouth before she thought them through and though she blushed she met his gaze and held it as he looked back at her again this time searching for the truth of her words. He apparently found what he was looking for.
"It is not often that a woman would complement a man the way you just have and with such honesty. It is a refreshing change and I thank you for your kind words for they have touched me greatly"
She could see they had.
She heard the stomping of pony hooves and looked up to see Fili and Kili had caught up to them.
"So Restania" Fili started
"We were wondering" Kili added
"If you could show us some of your gifts" They finished together."
She laughed again. "I could do so but I imagine your uncle would prefer me not to fall off his pony. It takes quite a bit of energy to use my gifts and though I am stronger than most elementals it is still draining to put on displays for long periods of time"
The boys pouted but let it go "Maybe sometime soon" Kili asked hopefully.
"Perhaps tonight when we have stopped for the evening" She replied. The two cheered then dropped back to the back to keep watch on the rest of the company.
"I apologize if they have pushed you into something you do not wish to do." Thorin said when they dropped back
"They have not it might be a good idea to show everyone in the company what I can do then it will not take you by surprise." He nodded
"That is probably wise"
They rode on talking quietly of her travels and his, of his people and of her adopted parents until they came to a rocky ledge with a small indent in the rock.
"We camp here tonight" Thorin announced.
The sighs of relief were audible as everyone climbed off the ponies. Thorin climbed off his and then reached for Restania to help her down
"Thank you" She said when her feet touched the ground. She turned to unpack her and Thorin's packs and missed the disbelieving look that most of the company had given her.
Thorin however had not and shooting a glare around the company said "Get a fire going. Kili, Fili you have first watch" and with that the company drifted apart each to their own jobs.