AN: Have I mentioned how much I love you guys? Because I do. A lot.

We're at 383 reviews, holy cow! I read every single one so many times like you've no idea what they mean to me. They're so encouraging since sometimes I can't tell if what I write is any good. It feels like I'm impersonating myself. It's weird.

To the person asking if they can draw Emily- yes, please! Send me a link if you do!

Chapter XXV

My Meandering Mind

By noon, the pounding in my head from two minor blunt-force traumas was subsiding to a dull ache. Again, I found myself wishing for sunglasses, not just for the sake of looking cool, but now, to keep the bright spring sun out of my sensitive eyes. I'd half a mind to ask Gandalf for his hat, had my light sensitivity not lessened.

There were much fewer trees now and we seemed to pass into another region of Hobbit territory. Gandalf kept us off the main roads, skirting around smatterings of smials, leading us over hills and across meadows filled with small wildflowers. It was beautiful but still felt very familiar despite not being able to pick out any landmarks. It was just that good old Hobbit country.

Towards the front of the company, where Myrtle was almost permanently fixed, thanks to Minty, conversation was light. Gandalf had his focus outward and Thorin, as I gathered from several quick glances, had turned inward to his thoughts. Balin, who rode on Thorin's other side, was quiet and taking great interest in the scenery. And Bilbo…Well, he'd stopped sneezing, although he'd sniff and rub his nose every so often, but was generally still put off from our awkward pony mishap. He sat hunched over, as if trying not to bump into me, and I wasn't sure how appropriate it'd be to offer him to lean back and use me as an armchair. I mean… we've only known each other a day and I didn't want to freak him out by being too friendly. If that were possible.

Instead, I leaned forward and whispered over his shoulder. "Do you know where we are exactly?"

Bilbo jumped slightly. "Er, well…" He paused to glance around. "I would say… we're near Buckland, if I'm right. Hard to tell; the farms do look quite alike."

"Ooh, okay," I said, sitting back. "Thanks."

"Mhm."

Buckland sounded familiar all right. It had to have been hours already and we still hadn't gotten that far. Or maybe my perception of time and distance was skewed. I only measured travel times in car rides and bus schedules and how long it took me to walk from my house to Jen's or school. Looking at a map in a book wasn't the same as knowing how many miles a centimeter equaled and how long that would take to traverse. It sounded ridiculous to think but wow, this trip was going to take awhile.

"Ohh. This is no good!" Gloin piped up, as it became apparent that we were approaching a river. "We can't cross this!"

"I thought he knew where he was going," groaned Dori.

Some of the others began to grumble until Thorin shot them a stern look. Then their complaints muted down to whispers and confused sentiments.

"There is no need to fret, Dwarf Masters," Gandalf assured, good-naturedly. I think he got a kick out of surprising people, that's why he sometimes waited until the last minute to explain things. "We've come exactly the way I have intended, and had you been more patient, you would soon have realized that there is a ferry for our crossing."

Bilbo perked up at that, raising his index finger in thought. "You don't mean Bucklebury Ferry, do you? That's hardly fit for ponies."

I involuntarily squeaked, those immediately in our vicinity whipping their heads to look at me. "Sorry, sorry," I said, having to bit my thumb to keep from smiling like a loon. Granted, biting myself and grinning doesn't absolve me of lunacy either.

"It would be fair to assume that you recognized the name?" Thorin asked, slightly amused.

Oh hell, I'd done the same thing at the Brandywine Bridge, didn't I? Gah! Why does he remember that?

I nodded sheepishly. "Yeah, a bit. It's just… a great name… for a ferry."

Wait.

Then it hit me. Metaphorically, this time, thank god.

"Gandalf? Gandalf. Gandalf the Grey. Hey, Gands," I said quickly, reaching out as far as I could (Bilbo let out an 'oomph!' as I made him bend forward) to swipe at the Wizard's robes to get his attention. I couldn't touch him. "Gandalf. Yo. Hold your horse—oh I can't even say that one. Ian."

"Emily," he drawled, still not turning. "What have I said about nicknames?"

I sighed, sitting up straight again. "Okay, Mithrandir, can we have a one on one for a sec?"

"There's no need to stop," he paused. "Unless it is urgent?"

My face dropped. "No. But—"

"Miss Parker?"

I felt heat creep into my cheeks as Thorin addressed me. Here, I'd been foolishly hoping that everyone within earshot wouldn't be paying me any attention.

"Is something wrong?" Thorin asked, seriously.

"Uh, n-no… No," I said more confidently. "I just… I… Are we going the right way?"

Gandalf chuckled. "So long as east is our direction, then, yes."

I frowned at the back of his head. Very helpful, thanks.

"No, I mean, shouldn't we be going the way we'd come? Like before? O-over the bridge?" I started addressing Thorin since he was still looking at me when Gandalf wasn't.

He inclined his head. "A pass through Bree was considered," Thorin relayed. "However; the nature of our journey, as well as the undoubted consequences should our presence be made known, prompted Master Gandalf and I to reconsider our route. It was decided that discretion holds priority over time for now. We are to take the less traveled paths and avoid calling unnecessary attention to ourselves."

My mouth formed an "o" and I slowly nodded. "I guess that makes sense…"

"It pleases me that you approve, Emily," chuckled Gandalf, casting me a wry look. I pouted at him.

I guess this was okay… I mean, I was pretty sure this wasn't the exact way they took… or maybe it was in the films? I don't know! I recalled a montage of pony traveling but that glossed over so much. The book did too. Maybe this was okay?

Thorin had a bounty on his head, and the last time we were in Bree he'd nearly been jumped had Gandalf not been there to make the hunters think twice. And me… was I another factor?

Yes. How could I not be?

The long side of my fringe grazed my earlobe. It felt like someone leaning in to whisper, their breath tickling the inside of my ear, and I hastily swatted it away. As I snapped from my thoughts, I found Thorin's eyes on me. His brows met, giving me a questioning look reminiscent of Fili. I half-smiled then quickly looked away. Had I zoned out that badly? What was my face like to make his expression that worried? God, I have to pick my time to space out wisely.

We passed a large farm, a few Hobbits out tending to crops, and then traveled through a section of sparse smials, before ending up at a modest dock.

"This is the ferry?" Dwalin deadpanned.

Bilbo was nodding. "I did try to warn you."

Bucklebury Ferry was an unimpressive wooden raft with a rail on one side, two lampposts, and a long rope tied from one dock to another to pull yourself across. But Gandalf was undaunted, suggesting that it would support a pony or two along with their riders. When no one volunteered, he merely shook his and dismounted.

"Emily, would you be of assistance?" he called after leading Ororo onto the dock.

"Me? Uh, sure?"

I was nervous dismounting, taking Bilbo's offered hand to help me down gracefully. I didn't fall on my butt so that was a good start.

"I'll need you to keep our mare calm, can you do that?" the Wizard asked, wrapping a cloth over her eyes and tying the reins to the rail.

"Yeah," I said, hoping it wouldn't take much. Honestly, if Ororo decided to turn bucking bronco, I'd rather bail overboard than try to restrain her. She was a big, muscle-y girl who could easily overpower me.

The ferry was sturdy and barely dipped as I stepped onto it which was a good sign. Gandalf handed me his staff to hold and all thoughts of falling into the river left me. I felt giddy, even with seeing the worried looks from some of the company—I could see Bilbo covering his mouth as the Wizard slowly pulled us from the dock.

Ororo snorted and I turned my attention to her. "It's okay, girl," I murmured, rubbing her neck and watching her ears twitch. "We're cool, Ro."

I leaned on Gandalf's staff, allowing me to keep steady footing as the ferry rocked with the currant. The wood was heavily grained but worn smooth. I had half a mind to mutter a few Harry Potter spells to see if anything would happen, but didn't. Being on a wobbly raft with a full grown horse was not the ideal place to see if you were secretly magical. That and I doubted Gandalf would appreciate me trying to use his magical items like toys, not when he was trusting me with it.

But I would have to ask later. Give it a good old lumos or something. That'd be so badass.

The ferry hit the dock in almost no time, the river not being particularly wide. We escorted Ororo onto land and I handed the staff back. "That went well," I said.

"Did you honestly think it'd be otherwise?" the Wizard asked with a sly smile. "Now, it should be just as easy for you to go back for the others."

"What?"

"The ferry isn't going to ferry itself back, now is it?"

I sighed. "Aye, cap'n."

"That's the spirit."

I trudged onto the ferry and started hauling myself back, the waist-high rope rough on my palms. It wasn't that strenuous, especially since it was just me on the raft. It was kind of fun once I realized I could handle it.

"All aboard that's coming aboard!" I called when I landed.

Bilbo started to walk Myrtle over but Thorin stopped him, saying something that I didn't hear. I saw Bilbo purse his lips and casually walk over to the pony's other side to distance himself from the Dwarf-king. Please, play nice, guys…

The princes were leading their ponies forward but not quick enough to get to the dock first. Instead it was Balin and Dwalin who approached.

Oh. Ah, okay. I'd have liked being pirates with the princes for like a minute but, this was fine. My old roomies… yay.

They tied off their ponies and Dwalin beat me to the rope. "I'll take care of it, lass."

So, I watched Dwalin's pony instead, trying to remember some of the other pony's names but coming up short. We docked quickly enough and Dwalin volunteered to bring the ferry back. He actually remained the ferryman for the rest of the trips too, the nice guy. The others soon joined us, Thorin and Bilbo being last, as well as the Hobbit who lived nearby, who'd come out after noticing the group. He waved us off, starting back across the river and we continued onward.

To our immediate left was an enormous wall of hedges that towered well over us, a few long gnarled branches from the forest beyond reaching over its top towards the Hobbit town. It was a bit ominous, I won't lie, and off putting, like the wall was to keep something trapped inside.

"How far along does this go, Mister Boggins?" Kili asked, alongside us.

Bilbo frowned at him. "It's Baggins," he corrected, first and foremost, "And there should be a break in the High Hay soon…"

"So, you are not sure?" Fili asked, on our other side. I smiled at him.

Bilbo looked offended for a moment. "I am sure. It has been a while since I have come this way but my memory serves me well enough, thank you."

The brothers shared an amused look behind us, no doubt enjoying Bilbo's snippy tone. I imagine not many people treated the princes without the upmost respect and reverence, aside from close friends and family. This was probably a new, exciting experience for them.

There was a small opening in the wall, a downwards paved path that led to a closed iron gate. Beyond that, was the forest. Only half of the ponies fit in the incline, the rest waiting for us to move forward. Gandalf tapped the gates with the end of his staff; they clanked firmly but didn't budge.

"It seems they're locked," the Wizard said lightly.

I watched as Thorin gave the back of Gandalf's head a long, hard stare. He clenched his jaw, and it looked like he had to swallow his annoyance. He looked back at the company, pensively, and jerked his head at someone.

Bilbo cleared his throat softly, then after gaining some confidence, did again, more loudly. "Er… I might be able to help… See, my cousin, Primula—lovely girl—is the daughter of the Master of Buckland and, this is their passageway so, naturally, they'd have the key. I-if I go and speak with her, rather than her father, I'm sure she would—"

"I think I've got it!"

The Hobbit blinked. Only now noticing that Nori had dismounted and successfully picked the lock. He swung the gates open and cheekily smirked as the ponies trotted forward. Thorin gave him a nod in passing.

"Oh," muttered Bilbo.

I patted his back. "That was a good idea though."

He made a noncommittal noise.

"Easy work," I heard Nori saying behind us, back on his pony.

"Could you teach me how to do that?" Ori asked, a sense of wonder in his voice.

"Course I can."

"Oh, no, you won't," came Dori's chiding tone. "Your thieving hasn't brought anything good to our door."

Nori snorted. "Brought food on the table."

"And more trouble than anything," Dori said sternly. "We won't be needing two scoundrels in the family."

There was a trodden dirt path cutting through the forest that Gandalf told us to inexplicably stay on. "Many old things rest in this wood," he said. "It would be wise to not disturb them."

His cryptic statement led to, of course, much of the company exchanging glances both skeptical and worried.

The forest gave off an almost Mirkwood feel, only while Mirkwood was mirky, this wood was bright and alive. That almost made it creepier. That the unwelcoming feeling was from the forest itself and not just the things that lurked in the shadows.

"There were stories of the trees coming to life," muttered Bilbo. I wasn't sure if he was talking to anyone or himself.

"You mean Ents?"

He glanced back at me and shook his head. "I'm not sure. I think they had another name, the tree people… I do recall the Bucklanders mentioning a few gruesome tales about this forest and why they built the High Hay to keep the trouble inside..."

I leaned forward, intrigued. "Like?"

Bilbo cleared his throat. "Erm, no, no, it was nothing more than stories to keep the children out of the woods, I'm sure," he said, looking around edgily. "No need to… think on it."

"Are you frightened, Mister Boggins?" Kili had come up beside us.

Bilbo huffed. "Certainly not and it's Baggins, for the last time."

Kili tried to look a bit sheepish but it was obvious that he was enjoying the Hobbit's biting tone. "My apologies… Mister Boggins."

The speed in which Bilbo whipped his head around to glare at the prince was near break neck. Kili had to stifle his laughter behind a hand. When Bilbo realized it was in all fun, even if on his behalf, he deflated and sighed, nodding as if to say, "Ha ha, very funny".

Close behind his brother, Fili rode up near us. "Uncle says that we are not to stop until we reach the other side of the wood," he relayed. Fili addressed me. "When we break, you can show me the stances you remember."

"Geez, you mean business."

"I see no reason to hold off your training."

"Yes, sensei," I said seriously before half smiling at him.

"Training?" echoed Bilbo, looking back at me.

"Oh yeah. Fili's teaching me how to use a sword," I grinned, patting the hilt on my hip. Bilbo looked worriedly at it.

"You don't suppose you will actually have to use it?" he asked, sounding like he'd hope I'd say yes.

"Honestly, I wish I'd had it months ago," I answered truthfully. "I've had one too many close calls to just rely on luck… and other people."

"Close calls...? What happened?" Bilbo asked, concern in his voice.

I froze at the question and the mental flashes of the answer. I saw the wolves, the trolls, the bounty hunters at Bree… I saw him… I saw the hunter… I knew they were all staring at me, waiting for an answer, curious about my hesitation and probably worried about how I immediately went blank. I forced myself to blink.

"Uh…" I started, shaking myself and rubbing the back of my head. "Just some real shady characters, that's all!" I grinned widely as if to be convincing. "Not to mention the wolves! Sheesh, were they scary! Didn't even bat an eye at a Wizard."

"That's right," Kili said suddenly. "Uncle told us of his ambush on the mountain—"

"We had to insist he not stint on details," added Fili.

"But what of your and Master Gandalf's encounter?"

"A-are there likely to be more wolf attacks?" squeaked Bilbo.

I was glad that they'd taken the bait to redirect the conversation. "I'm not sure but it's possible," I told Bilbo then answered the princes. "I'll tell you if you tell me about Thorin's run in."

They both started to frown. Fili spoke, "Our uncle wasn't very keen to tell even us… I think he would prefer if it didn't reach all of the company's ears. The mere mention the day before had an ill enough effect on morale…"

"Well, I won't tell anyone," I protested. "And neither will Bilbo, right?"

He sputtered slightly. "I—well, no. Of course not."

"See?"

Fili was already apprehensive at the idea.

"Uncle instructed us not to say anything…" Kili said.

"Oh?" I said curtly. "Funny, Gandalf said the same thing to me, so that's that, I guess." I shrugged, trying to look indifferent and I saw their shoulders hunch. Ha ha.

They shared a look at each other then at Thorin only a ten paces away. "Later?" Kili whispered. "When we're alone?"

"Sure thing!" I beamed, catching Fili's unamused smirk at my tactics. I lowered my voice, suddenly worried as to why Thorin would want to keep details from everyone. "He—He's not hurt, is he?" I whispered.

They paused and my anxiety spiked. Oh god he was, wasn't he? I glanced at his back. He seemed okay! I don't remember him limping or anything but then again, I wasn't actually looking for anything wrong before!

"Do you hear that?" Kili asked suddenly.

"Oh nice try," I said, "Don't change the subject."

"No, I hear it too," Bilbo said.

I paused, trying to concentrate over the sound of the others' talking and hooves on dirt and birdsong. "I don't hear anything."

"Someone was speaking in the distance," Fili said, looking into the forest. He pointed to our left.

"I… thought they were singing," said Bilbo.

"I thought laughing," said Kili.

We stared for a moment as we trotted slowly along.

"Maybe it was the trees?" I added, almost feeling silly for suggesting it but they didn't laugh.

"Perhaps," said Fili. "I have never heard a tree speak."

Suddenly, Bilbo's scary legends about the forest seemed much realer. There was definitely a reason the Hobbits had built that high wall.

Gandalf was watching us with a knowing glint in his eyes. "Don't fret, you four. We mean no harm here," he said, "I am sure the protectors of this old forest can see that."

Even with his reassurance, I was still a bit on edge. I could see the brothers and Bilbo were too. Some of the other company members, I noticed were wary and gripping the reigns a bit stiffly.

I found myself agitated, fidgeting, and restless—more than normal for me in a saddle. It felt like we'd been traveling forever. There were no stops while in the forest, which I was thankful for, and we ate a light meal on the way. When we finally broke through the tree line and met a wide expansive field, I wasn't greeted with a mighty sense of relief like I thought I would be. Instead, my trepidation only grew. Leave it to my anxiety to not know when to quit.

I turned round to watch as we left the forest behind. Much like the Hobbits in Buckland who felt safer with a buffer between them and the eerie woods, I now felt like the Old Forest itself was a barrier for something else beyond it. Here, in these rolling hills and valley land, I felt exposed. I needed my back to a wall that didn't exist.

My eyes lost their longing focus on the forest to realize that I'd been practically staring at Oin who looked quite offended. "Sorry," I muttered, turning back without waiting for a reply.

"Are you feeling well?" Bilbo asked, giving me a cautious look over his shoulder like I was about to morph into a goblin and eat him.

"Yeah," I said automatically but he kept giving me that apprehensive look.

"Are you sure? Because you've been shaking the whole saddle with your jittering."

He caught me. "I didn't realize… My bad."

"I—nothing's bad," he said, frowning. "I was just concerned, is all."

I sighed. "I'm just nervous, I dunno why. Ever since the forest… Well, actually a bit before that too…"

Bilbo cleared his throat. "I understand having a bit of nerves at the start of a journey… I, I've never been on such a… huge undertaking myself," he admitted. "It was such a hurried decision too. The time I should have spent thinking it over, I am doing now…"

His unease distracted me from my own and I lightly touched his shoulder. "It'll probably take a bit to get used to but I'm sure you will. Give it a few days… or a week."

Bilbo snorted. "I hope it doesn't take a week to figure out if I have bitten off more than I can chew."

I smiled. "Well, what happens when you do?"

"Hm?"

"You chew carefully and swallow little pieces until you're sure you won't choke," I answered cheerfully. "Or just spit it out but that's a last resort…"

"Charming."

"Well, it's true."

It wasn't long until we were fully in the midst of the dreary hills and we finally slowed for a break. I gave Bilbo a hand in lowering himself to the ground which he gave a thankful nod. My own legs wobbled as I swung over and landed, none too happy that they hadn't been used nearly all day. With a twinge of satisfaction, I noticed some of the other company members stretching and rubbing their backs and backsides to get the blood flowing. Good. So it wasn't just me.

It was well past lunchtime, and many other meal times Bilbo informed me. I dug through the knapsack Gandalf had given me that morning to pull out some food, offering a share to Bilbo since he didn't seem to have been really prepared. He declined twice before his stomach grumbled. My gnawing nerves kept my appetite well suppressed but I knew I should be hungry.

There weren't many places to sit so I opted for just sitting cross legged in the grass. My skirt stretched across my legs, providing me with a nice table to place my food. I'd gone light, with a soft roll, some sweet jerky, and dried cranberries—at least I think they were cranberries. I ate them first, and quickly, just because I didn't want to look at them. I just… My stomach was upset enough.

"Why so glum?"

I looked up at Fili staring down at me, his arms crossed and a small smile playing on his lips.

"She's regretting having you as an instructor," Kili supplied, coming up beside him.

I smiled at them. "Hey, guys."

Kili plopped first, Fili crouching in front of us. "I thought it would be smart to start off slowly," he told me. "Just going over your basic footwork and forms."

"Aw, you mean I don't get to duel you?" I pretended to be disappointed but I was super relieved. I just wasn't in the mood to concentrate on anything.

Fili smirked, "One step at a time."

Once we'd finished our quick lunch, I followed Fili to a mostly level area, a little ways away from the company, but not far enough that we'd have total privacy. Already, the sight of their prince leading a girl away became their entertainment for their meal. No pressure.

Sensing my nervousness at being watched, he traded spots with me so that my back was to our audience. "Focus on me," he said. "In a battle, there will be plenty of distractions. It only takes a moment for your opponent to gain the upper hand."

I nodded.

"Wait." Fili stopped me as I went to draw my sword.

"Oh god, did I already mess up?"

He chuckled, stepping closer. "When you draw your blade, keep your right hand closer to the hilt. You have better control."

"Kay."

"As you draw, keep your left securing the sheath. Good, keep it steady."

I drew the sword with a soft "shh" sound. I looked to Fili for confirmation.

"Again," he said, looking thoughtful.

"Really?"

He nodded, wordlessly.

I had a bit of trouble lining up the flat of the blade with the sheath on my first try, feeling self conscious with Fili and the others watching me closely. "Use your thumb and forefinger to guide it in," he told me, making me smirk.

"Heh, that's what she said," I muttered. I couldn't help myself.

"What?"

I blushed, instantly regretting the phrase. "Uh… n-nothing. It was just a silly, nothing."

He stared, trying to figure out why I was so—his eyes went wide then he cringed. "Emily."

"Sorry."

"Did you mean to insinuate…?"

"Sorry."

Fili sighed, shaking his head with a barely disguised smile. "Kili is bad enough, but you?"

"It just slipped out."

We froze, locking eyes before cracking. I covered my face with my free hand, groaning. "That one I didn't mean!"

"Let's just move on to stances—"

"—you mean positions," I added with a grin.

"By Mahal—one more joke and I promise, I will have you running laps."

That sobered me up quickly. "Whoa! Don't threaten me with exercise, you monster."

Fili smirked, glad that he'd taken back control of the situation. "Stance two," he ordered and I floundered to remember which that was. "I said two."

"Right! Uh…" Feet shoulder width apart… One step forward. Knees bent.

"Rest on the balls of your feet, not your heels. Don't stand on tiptoe."

"I remember."

"Straightening your back more. Good."

Fili sank into the same stance in front of me, drawing one of his swords. I did the same. "Now if I were to advance," he drawled, stepping forward and I retreated, not breaking my stance. He nodded in approval. We went through more stances but he said that number two was the best for my height and weapon. I was good at remembering how to hold the sword to block from certain angles, as he demonstrated, but my reaction time was fatally slow.

"Do not worry. With practice, you will react without thinking," he reassured. Fili suddenly lunged with a jab to test me and I swung my sword downwards to redirect him. He gave me a "see?" face. "Very good."

"Ooh, you got a 'very'," Kili teased, officially getting a better seat.

"Don't interfere, Kili," his brother chided lightly.

"I was only going to tell you to pack it in," he said. "We're leaving soon."

"Already?" I asked.

Kili shrugged. "It's been a mid-hour. I was not expecting to have this long really."

"We'll be there," Fili nodded, politely dismissing Kili who gave us a curious look. I was on the same page though, unsure as to why Fili wasn't heading to the ponies. Instead he stood there, pensively gazing out at the open fields, his thumbs hooked on his belt.

"Fili…?" I tried, sheathing my sword. "Should we get going?"

He looked me over with a knowing stare that could rival Gandalf's. He did that a lot, watch someone like he was reading their mind.

"Will you tell me what is upsetting you? Is it serious?" he asked.

I blinked in surprise, then sighed, smiling. Was everyone going to ask me that in one day? "Am I that much of an open book?"

"I understand if you do not want to speak of it, but something has been weighing on your mind since we parted in the Blue Mountains," Fili said carefully. "Is it the quest or something more?"

"It's… mostly a lot of little things," I tried to explain, leaving out that the quest comprised many of the little things. "It just feels like they're all piling up right now and I have to deal them all at once… I guess it's a bit overwhelming."

"Could I help any?"

I smiled at him. "I don't think so… it's kinda of personal stuff. But thanks."

Fili nodded, looking like he'd wished I'd have given him a way to help. "If you are sure."

"I'll tell you if I think of something; although, you just helping me learn how to kick ass and not die is a huge relief."

He snorted as we headed back to the company. "Well, it is a pleasure to teach you the ways of ass kicking and not dying," he smiled.

I found Bilbo standing awkward by Myrtle, and figured he was casually pretending to wait for me and acting like he didn't need help getting into the saddle.

And again, the riding.

It was monotonous, made bearable by the small talk and tidbits of conversations I'd overhear. There was some low key resentment brewing amongst the classes here but I was hoping it wouldn't escalate. Once everyone gets to know each other, they should lighten up, right?

The sky was just beginning to darken, not substantially but enough to warn us that daylight wouldn't hold out much longer. Farther out, the hills started to rise higher with every minute of riding, some of which were peppered with dark crops of trees, and others with crumbling castles and massive megaliths that reminded me of Stonehenge. It was near one of the ruins that we stopped to rest after some hours of traveling.

My anxiousness hadn't dissipated still, and now in the shadow of a once living and thriving civilization, it felt like an omen, or at least a cruel reminder that everything comes to an end.

Instead of a snack for myself, I dug out my notebook and a pen, intent on trying to right my nerves. Making lists helped sometimes. Or just putting my thoughts onto a physical thing.

I made way to the remnants of the castle, where a low sitting wall had eroded down to a nice crooked bench.

"Do not stray far, Emily," Gandalf called.

I turned back to him briefly. "Okay," I said, taking my seat.

Jen and I loved searching for old buildings like this. Two summers ago, we found this old shed in a thicker part of the woods some ways from my house. It looked like it had been converted into a makeshift clubhouse by kids but had been long abandoned. We named it "the Murder Shed" but mostly avoided it, only going back once in a while to check for signs of activity or further decay. The last time we'd seen it, someone had kicked a few floorboards in. She'd have loved this. We wanted to be amateur ghost hunters or just plain explorers and used to dream of old castles. Granted, the one nearby was hard to make out since it was mostly stone walls left standing. If there had been upper levels or towers, they were long gone.

As I flipped to a blank page, I clicked my pen. I started with a heading: What's Going On. That was stupid but whatever. I decided that using code would be safest in case anyone were to read it.

Deadline:

Well, was it Durin's Day? Or the big battle? Would it be bad to try and stop them from opening the secret door? Hm. That wouldn't change the fact that there's a huge malicious dragon inside… one that could be a huge problem for everyone, and not just us and Laketown… Crap. They really have to get inside of Erebor, huh?

"Do you mind if I sketch here, Miss?"

I gasped at Ori's sudden voice, making him flinch. I put a hand to my chest. "Uh, no. No, course not."

He twisted his lips, clutching his leather-bound book to his chest. "Are you sure? I would not want to invade your privacy..."

I forced a smile past my inner turmoil. I hoped he wasn't afraid of my witchy reputation. "You're fine, Or—Mister Ori," I correctly, hoping by being really polite, he'd loosen up.

He nodded, still looking wary but as he approached the castle, he relaxed, flipping open his book. I smiled at him zoning out until he disappeared behind a wall. I glanced down at my own notebook then out to where the majority of the company was resting. I spotted Dori and Nori staring dead at me, arms crossed, as if preparing to interfere should I try and bewitch him. I raised my hand briefly in a 'hello'. Dori shook his head, making to charge up the hill, but Nori held him back, choosing to go instead. I dropped my hand. Yikes. I tried to play it off as them just being overprotective in general and not take it personally.

"Hi," I said lamely as Nori approached. He didn't reply but gave me a curious glance, raising his brow. Nori wasn't outright hostile and only looked bored and reluctant to babysit as he walked by me after his brother.

I sighed through my nose. I stared down at the page, tapping my pen on it in thought, glancing back to the company. Dori hadn't budged, now being pestered by Bofur. My gaze slid left and my heart skipped a beat, my eyes meeting those of Thorin's. Why was he watching me? Was he? Or just the Ri brothers by me? Dwalin next to him was looking this way too.

I ducked my head, my mouth feeling dry. They probably just wanted to make sure I didn't wander off… Or just keeping an eye on everyone in general… My heart was going now. I kept reassuring myself it was nothing (and it was) but I couldn't muster the courage to look back and see if they were still watching.

Okay, okay, okay. Back to my contingency plans… What are things that have to happen? I started to jot down what came to mind.

-Get into Chamber of Secrets

-Slay basilisk (or let it loose)

-meet the were-bear?

Aka Beorn. That was probably important. He comes to help out in the battle, right? Or would he regardless? I had to be careful here… I mean, changing anything too drastic too soon could mess me up big time. My knowledge was the only thing in my favor, the only chance I had at manipulating events. If the timeline veered off of canon and I couldn't predict what was going to happen and when, then I'd lose my advantage and end up being useless to them.

So at what point was it safe to begin changing big things…? All that I wanted to change was the fate of three people. And they weren't going to be in real jeopardy until much much later. Sometime after we reach Erebor and the dragon is slain—that's such an insane sentence to take seriously. Even after all this time, the sheer crazy reality of being in Middle Earth wasn't lost on me.

Well, out of all of the major events of the Quest, one of the most important (arguably the most important) is Bilbo getting the One Ring from Gollum. So, it would probably be smart to not mess with things until after that happens, namely, after we get through the Misty Mountains. God, it feels so weird talking nonchalantly about this.

Okay so the list goes:

-Get into Chamber of Secrets

-Slay basilisk (or let it loose)

-meet the were-bear?

- Martin gets "horcrux" ****

I sighed. This didn't leave me any room for improvement. So, if this is right and we had to cover everything up to unleashing Charizard on the innocent villagers, I'd have to act fast as hell to—what? Stop Thorin from going bonkers and starting a petty war? If we were better prepared, maybe that'd be enough… But if I'm wrong... If it isn't enough...

Dammit!

I gritted my teeth, gripping my pen tightly. I wanted to ram my pen all the way through my notebook!

This is so stupid! I don't know what I'm even doing!

I glared at my writing. All I remember from the book was that it didn't describe jack shit in the end! When I was younger, I'd thought that my dad was just skipping over parts to shield me from the scary stuff (he used to skip the spiders until I was ten). But no. There's no details. Bilbo gets knocked out and when he comes to it's over. The princes are dead and Thorin's dying.

Thanks a-fucking-lot, Tolkien.

"How do I work with that?" I whispered. My eyes were stinging. I turned my back to the company, hoping no one watching would see me wipe away tears before they could fall. Stupid, don't cry. Stupid!

My chest was tightening like I couldn't breathe and I decided to give up on planning for now. I shut my pen in my notebook and stood.

I walked a little ways to where Ori and Nori had gone, turning a corner until I was in what was once a room. There was nothing left but a stone floor, four walls, and what might have been a hearth. I still couldn't breathe. This wasn't helping, distracting me. I couldn't draw a full breath.

Panic attack? Maybe?

"Help me pull, will you?" I heard Nori saying.

"I think it's stuck."

I was panting to breathe, starting to feel lightheaded. Should've had a bigger lunch, I told myself but that wasn't…

I followed their voices to another room, then another. I couldn't find them. God, this place was a maze. There were just empty rooms with no ceilings and walls and… I came upon a staircase, leading up. I took the steps slowly; even with them being stone, I expected them to break away beneath me. They lead to nothing, of course, the second floor nonexistent. From up here, I could see over the first floor layout. The Ri brothers were close, only a few rooms away, attempting to pull something from a wall.

A wind washed over me, whipping my skirts and hair around and chilling the sweat on my skin. I dragged my hand over my forehead. Why was I sweating?

Panic attack?

The swell died down as quickly as it rose up, as if it's only purpose was to make me cold.

I looked down at the sudden drop where the steps stopped. I'd probably brake an ankle if I jumped.

A hand closed around my shoulder and I spun around. "Fuck!" I yelped, the hand guiding me down a step and away from the drop. "Fuck," I repeated softer now, glaring up at the Wizard. "You scared me."

"I would have frightened you were I to have called out as well," he said, leading me down to the first floor. "I did not want to risk you falling off, one way or another."

I sighed, "Feel free to just magic me down next time."

Gandalf didn't smile. "There are some places in Middle Earth where magic should not be flaunted so needlessly," he drawled.

I was gripping his sleeve tightly and his hand hadn't left my shoulder. "What is this place, Gandalf?"

"These were once the dwellings of Men and then of the Dúnedain," Gandalf told me, leaning on his staff and surveying the ruins with a frown. "But that was long ago."

The Dúnedain? I got a flash of Aragorn and wondered if any of his ancestors had lived here. I wondered if he was born yet. Maybe, I didn't feel like doing the math and guesswork.

"Where'd they go?" I asked quietly.

Gandalf looked down at me, his blue eyes bright under the shade of his hat.

"Oomph!"

"I almost have it, Ori! Don't give up now!"

Gandalf pursed his lips, and drew in a breath that I thought was for a sigh. "Let us see what our Dwarf friends are up to…" he said smartly, striding towards their voices.

I still couldn't breathe right.

When we found them, they were attempting to pry something tarnished and golden from the stone wall.

"And just what is it that you almost have, Master Nori?" Gandalf asked pointedly.

Nori shrugged. "Nothing really," he said in a bored tone, leaning against the wall. "Not much interesting around here."

"Is that so?"

Nori kept his cool, which was pretty impressive considering that a Wizard flat out knew he was lying. Ori on the other hand was hiding behind his brother.

"Would you mind stepping away from the wall there," Gandalf asked but it was obviously a polite order.

Nori snorted through his nose, pushing off the wall. "Whoever these blighters were, they knew how to treat their prisoners well," he said once what he'd been hiding was visible. On the wall was a pair of golden chains to shackle a person to the wall. I gulped, my eyes flitting around the room to see there had been other spots where chains had been. "No use in letting them sit here. It's a shame really," Nori went on, "Could be melted down, made into something pretty, eh?" He sent me an encouraging look to try and get me to agree but my head was spinning.

"Leave them, Master Dwarf," warned Gandalf. "There is nothing of value here worth the woe it will bring. Not a single stone from this ruin."

Nori gave him a sour look.

"Are we agreed?" the Wizard pressed, his tone final.

At that, Nori put his hands up defensively, or showing that they were empty. "Fine. We're leaving, we're leaving. Come on, Ori," he called, stalking past us, Ori in tow. The younger Dwarf hurried by, clutching his book to his chest and eyeing us warily like we would to turn him into a frog if he weren't fast enough.

Gandalf hummed in thought, watching them go then made to follow, but I didn't move. "Gandalf, why did they leave? The Dúnedain?"

I saw his shoulders sag and it was a long moment before he turned back to me. He held out a hand to escort me along. I wasn't sure if he was going to answer but once we were outside of the ruins, he spoke in a low voice. "There had been a Great Plague that swept over the land. Many thousands of lives were lost to it," he told me sadly.

"So, it was a disease?" Like the Black Plague, I guess.

"Of sorts, yes."

"'Of sorts?' You're… not saying something," I said. It was obvious that there was something unsaid.

"The plague originated in the East," Gandalf told me.

I stopped dead. Mordor was in the east. "You don't mean… It—it was—him?"

"Of that, we cannot be certain, but the plague was of benefit to him; it killed many of those who were enemies of his dark forces at play," the Wizard paused, "And since forth, shadows followed like flies to carrion…"

I felt so dizzy as my mind tried to catch up. Did You-Know-Who make this plague? Or was it a coincidence?

"So it… it wiped out the Dúnedain? But that's impossible. I know there's more out there."

"In other places, the Dúnedain reside and roam, but here? No," Gandalf shook his head. "While the plague devastated them, it was the actions of another that permanently drove the Dúnedain from these lands, the Witch-king of Angmar."

I stopped when we reached the company, stuck in a stupor. "The head of the Ring-wraiths… He…?"

"Do not fill your mind with worry over the Black Riders and the filth they spread. Their time has passed," Gandalf said, leaving me for his horse. I almost didn't catch the last part he murmured to himself. "We can hope..."

The Witch-king had been here. Right here. Even if it was ages ago, it… Oh that was it, wasn't it? I wasn't just having a panic attack! This whole time. This… this crushing feeling… this dread… Sure, it was partly due to freaking over my insanely important and life saving mission but, this, this place, it made everything worse, suffocating, it… it was just like, well, it almost like—

"Dusk is approaching fast," Thorin said to the company. "We will make camp here for the night."

I saw Gandalf bristle slightly but I didn't bother to wait to see if he'd say anything. I made a b-line for Thorin, not even caring that I looked like a soccer mom power walking over to grab the last frozen turkey in the supermarket a day before Thanksgiving. He caught sight of me a few strides before I reached him, a plethora of micro-expressions crossing his features at seeing me in my manic state. Most notably was concern.

"Thorin-can-I-talk-to-you-real-quick-please?" I blurted, keeping my fists clenched firmly on my skirt. In the few seconds it took for Thorin to risk a glance at Balin and respond, I had half a mind to attempt to drag him away. But I doubted I could move him against his will, especially when I was this shaky. "It's really important?" I added.

He nodded to me. "Of course," he said, looking me over twice as we stepped away from the others.

"We can't stay here," I said in one shallow breath.

He searched my face quickly. "What troubles you?"

"I can't, I… This place… It doesn't feel right," I tried to explain. "I don't know what it is but…" I trailed off, shaking my head, looking out at the ruins again. "It's just… it's not safe."

His brows furrowed as he listened to my upset rambling, picking up on my fears but not any rationale behind them. "There's nothing that can harm you here," Thorin tried to reassure me, as if I were a kid insisting that a boogeyman was in my closet. "We are at a high vantage and will have someone on watch at all times in the night." He paused sharply, seeing my reaction.

God, I wasn't trying to have a break down in front of you. Again. Always, always, always with you. What cruel jerk is pulling these strings?! Cut it out!

"Miss Parker…?"

It wasn't safe!

I was still shaking my head at him, fighting the tears that began to well in my eyes. It wasn't safe. Something was wrong. He had to see that. He had to.

"I-I'm sorry! I'm not trying to be difficult, really. I just…" I squeezed my eyes shut for a second, feeling myself cave in. "I just can't."

I felt his hands steady me by the shoulders and my eyes sprang open, the mantra of the moment running through my head like an alarm bell. It's not safe, it's not safe.

"I know what evil feels like, Thorin. I don't want to leave you and everyone! Just… Please don't make me stay here."

It may have been the first time I'd ever seen Thorin look truly shocked, but his expression slowly dropped back into a careful calm and he took a step back, studying me closely. He sighed, clearly unhappy but not outright upset. Thorin turned his gaze to the horizon then back to my anxious self.

"Would those outcrops put your mind at ease?" he finally asked, pointing to a series of rocky hills in the distance.

"Yes!" I said, almost bouncing on the spot. "Yes, anywhere's better than here!"

Thorin nodded to me, looking regale without trying. "Then, it is done."

"Oh my god, thank you!" I cried, my high voice making him blink—his equivalent of flinching, I suppose. I felt guilty though, convincing him to change his plans. The Quest had just started and I was already being a nuisance.

Thorin hadn't moved despite the fact that our conversation had basically ended with his agreement. It's like he could tell I wanted to say something else. Bless his patience.

"I'm sorry, I," I stopped, feeling dumb for being a pest. "I really don't mean to be a pain…"

He sighed again, this time shaking his head once. "Do not apologize," the Dwarf-king said, in a tone that left no room for argument. "I… do not pretend to understand this reluctance you hold so adamantly…" he started, slowly gathering his words, "but I will not intentionally cause you suffering… Not when it can be so easily remedied."

I twisted my lips. "It's really okay…?"

His brows rose slightly. "Yes," he assured. "This will not put us out of our way."

"Okay… Thank you." I managed a smile that he allowed to dismiss us, and we started back to the group.

"Get back on your ponies," Thorin called to everyone—some were actually unpacking. There were a few groans of protest which he ignored. Balin in particular gave him a questioning look. I caught him give a not-right-now face in reply. "We ride past the hill lands."

Bilbo sputtered. "Past the? But there're hills for miles," he tried to say but those who'd heard him only pulled miserable faces at the information.

I can't remember the last time I felt such immeasurable relief. Maybe this came close to when I found Gandalf in Dol Guldur and I knew that that living hell would finally be over. At least that's how it felt then.

When we passed the final megalith in sight, its monstrous weight lifted from my chest. Maybe it was a matter of the mind but the air felt cleaner and my lungs could hold onto a full breath now. The ponies climbed the rocky incline where we'd make camp. Collectively, we seemed a bit worn down, ponies included, and silently started unrolling beds and setting up our site.

Clouds obscured any early stars, the sky turning a deep blue except for at the horizon, which was still a bright cyan. I could see a few small bats flying erratically, catching bugs and disappearing into the black trees.

It was a quiet night from then on. Bombur and Dori made savory stew with plenty of vegetables and chunks of tender fowl—I honestly wasn't sure if it was chicken but by then my appetite had returned, trying to make up for its earlier lapse, and I couldn't be bothered to do anything but stuff spoonfuls into my mouth.

As the tired conversations went on, I noticed that the Hobbit seemed a little out of place. Okay, a lot out of place. I felt sorry for him. Although, I was somewhat outcasted too, I still had some Dwarves willing to give me interaction. Bilbo just sort of sat there… occasionally talking to his pony.

I went over to him on a whim, hoping to liven his spirits and maybe get him to join the rest of the group by the fire. His head snapped in my direction at my approach, looking alarmed as if he expected me to be a bear. Or Thorin.

"Hey," I said softly with a smile.

He visibly relaxed, relieved. "Hello, Miss Emily."

"Uh, it's just Emily… Remember?"

"Right. Sorry," he nodded, sighing. "I'm just… out of sorts. Did you… need something from the ponies?"

Did he really think the chances of someone seeking him out were that slim…?

"No, I wanted to talk to you, actually. If you want. I mean, there are loads of blue-haired girls in these parts but I am the same one you had tea with yesterday, if you recall," I joked, making him give a thin smile.

"That would be… very appreciated. Please, have a seat." He gestured to the grassy area like it was a dining table. I snorted, plopping down in front of him with a grin and he scooted his feet towards his body.

"So…" he began, casting his eyes around before settling on me. "How do you like the, er, Quest, so far?"

I shrugged. "I'm excited, I guess… Really nervous too."

"Hm." Bilbo nodded noncommittally as if testing the waters. He might've thought the Dwarves were eavesdropping.

I leaned forward and whispered, "And my rear end's killing me! I'd rather walk than keep on the ponies!"

Bilbo seemed surprised at my words at first then cracked a smile and let out a few chuckles. "I was worried that I was the only one," he admitted.

I grinned at him. "We probably are the only ones," I shrugged. "But we can keep that between us."

He smiled back but I saw him hesitating. "Earlier, when you were speaking to Thorin..."

"I'm okay," I answered, anticipating his query. "That place was just freaking me out."

He nodded, not bothering to question me further.

An idea struck me.

"What's black and white and read all over?" I asked him.

He blinked at me. "Sorry?"

"What's black and white and read all over?" I repeated.

"I…" He narrowed his eyes in confusion. "I am… not sure. Did, did you see something?" Bilbo looked over his shoulder, expecting to see something like I had described.

I nearly face-palmed. "It's a riddle," I told him as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Ooh! Oh, right. Yes, well, I don't know," he shrugged. "What is it?"

I furrowed my brow. "Aren't you even going to try to solve it?"

Bilbo drew in a deep breath. "Well, I would but, it's not very substantial? What I mean is, it sounds like it's missing the riddle part… it's more of a question, really."

Oh yeah, Mr. What's-In-My-Pocket?

"So, you're not guessing?"

"There is not much to go on," he started. "Loads of thing could be white, black and red." I wasn't going to let it go and he could tell. "I'll think on it?"

"Okay."

I looked back and a majority of the company was settling down or in some cases (Oin, Bifur, and Bombur) already asleep. That sounded pretty good actually.

"I think I'm going to try to sleep," I told Bilbo, standing.

"Alright. Sleep well. Might be a good idea…"

I had placed my bedroll by the fire and found that the princes had taken up residence against the rock wall close by. Now that was a familiar picture. Maybe we would have come hear regardless of my freak out… That made me feel a bit better. Even though Thorin had said it wasn't a problem, I had still felt guilty.

"Emily," Fili greeted as I knelt on my cotton mattress to rummage through my backpack.

"Good evening," Kili smiled, leaning forward to see me better.

I shot a lazy smile at them. "Hey."

I finally found a hair scrunchie tucked in one of the compartments and threw my hair into a sloppy bun. Since there weren't mirrors at the ready, I'd figure getting my hair out of the way might keep it semi-manageable. I hoped.

"What have you done to your hair?" Fili grinned.

"It's a bun," I shrugged. "You guys don't do buns?"

"Oh! It's supposed to resemble a bread roll?" asked Kili, the light bulb going off over his head. His excited shout gained Thorin's attention, who I hadn't noticed sitting on the rocks behind Kili, and I tried to control my face as he eyed the wobbly ball of hair on top of my head. Well, now I'm self conscious…

"Uh, yeah, I-I guess like the food," I said. "Never really thought about it…"

Fili gave a snort of laughter, trying to hide it behind a fist. "It is… very, erm, elegant."

"Liar."

"I'd never!"

I stuck my tongue out at him to which he laughed.

"I dunno about you, but I'm tired," I said, shimmying down into my blanket. I turned on my stomach to still look at the brothers.

"I have first watch," said Fili.

"I am staying awake as well," Kili added eagerly. "Two sets of eyes are better, right?"

"In theory, yeah."

They bade me a good night and I turned with my back to them and the fire. It took a few minutes to get used to the feel of a solid ground beneath me and another few minutes to beat away the troubling thoughts about what was to come, but finally, I drifted off. I had yet to fall into a deep sleep when I suddenly jolted awake.

I lay disoriented for a moment, trying to make sense of everything around me. People were talking. Thorin was talking. I sat up, rubbing my eyes, just in time to hear him rebuke his nephews. Oh, even my sleepy self recognized his words. The princes were being little shits to Bilbo then. I'd have chewed them out a bit had I been more with it.

"Don't mind him, laddie." Balin meandered over to the princes, resting by the wall in front of me. "Thorin has more cause than most to hate orcs."

I looked to where Thorin stood, towards the edge of camp, unconsciously mirroring Fili.

Balin's words could almost be recited in my head along with him. "After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain, King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient Dwarf kingdom of Moria… But our enemy had got there first," he continued solemnly. "Moria had been taken by legions of orcs, led by the most vile of all their race…"

I stood abruptly, causing Balin to pause in his story to look at me. I couldn't stand this. Being able to picture everything he was saying as if I had been there… it was too much. It was gross. All of this being history and not just parts of a story. This pain and death and war were real. And I knew it before, and it's not like I forgot but… Being reminded off all the evil things in the world, things that were still alive and dangerous and ruining people. Good people.

I could imagine the expression on Thorin's face at the sight of his grandfather's severed head. The utter shock and anguish coursing through him. I couldn't. I couldn't.

Squeezing my eyes tightly, I walked from the camp. I wanted to get lost in the forest, to be alone with my thoughts and swirling emotions but knew it wasn't a good idea. The call from the orcs was enough to keep the rational voice in my head alive and heard. So instead, I found myself nearing Thorin, my feet moving on their own accord.

The Dwarf-king heard me approach but didn't move, eyes angled downward to identify my shadow. I came up beside him and crossed my arms at the cool air. I wanted to do something to comfort him. I wanted to hug him or grab his arm or make him some damn hot chocolate but none of that seemed likely to work. I don't think he'd have accepted outright support, not in front of his company, at least. He had an image to uphold. He had to be their backbone to keep up their courage and morale which meant that crying on a girl's shoulder was out of the question. Not that he would otherwise. From what Dís had said, it seemed unlikely that he'd ever done that.

But… Maybe just standing here with him was a comfort in itself… Just the fact of knowing that he wasn't alone. Maybe that was enough, I hoped. It helped me.

I drew in a slow deep breath, both of us staring out across the valley. Balin's voice drifted to us over the crackling of the fire and the chirping of crickets. I listened then as the tale drew to a close, frowning.

"…There is one I could call king."

Thorin remained still and I was almost curious enough to risk a glance at him. But I didn't. I felt that any movement would break the spell of the moment. He didn't turn and leave like I thought he would, like he had done, going to meet the awestruck gazes of his companions. It seemed… that my simple presence was reason enough for him to stay here and although relatively insignificant, it made me feel happy. A smile tried to spread across my face but I fought it off, not feeling it appropriate to be grinning like a madwoman after such a sobering tale. Still, a warm sensation drove out my negative emotions.

I had changed something. Without even trying. This was possible.

This was possible.

I felt the urge to say something now, to break the silence between us even if it had been a comfortable one. I peered down over the steep slope of the cliff, and said softly, "L'appel du vide."

Out of my periph, I saw Thorin look at me. "What?" he asked, his voice even lower than mine.

I met his gaze calmly, seeing confusion as his more forefront emotion. I gave a small smile. "It's French, uh, a language where I'm from," I explained. "Roughly translated it means 'the call of the void'."

He was silent, studying me and probably wondering what my cryptic statement meant. I was trying to be interesting and clever but was probably coming off as just a bit creepy… I glanced away from him to peer over the edge of the cliff again. "It's supposed to describe this feeling people get like when they're up high, like overlooking a cliff like this, or atop a tall building… It's that little voice in the back of your head saying jump."

Thorin made no reply, but followed my gaze down to the valley below. I went on, encouraged by his silence, "Apparently, it's the brain's way of taking control of a situation, by making the most extreme choice seem appealing… So if there's ever an option of leaping off a high place and dying, it'll seem like a good idea… I-it's a bit strange, I guess. And… well, morbid."

I took a small step forward, still gazing downwards and I saw Thorin stand straighter. "Do you have that feeling?" I asked him. "Right now?"

Thorin matched my step, choosing not to answer me. I glanced up at him to find his eyes hard, watching me warily. "Miss Parker," he drawled.

"Emily," I corrected without thinking.

"It is time we return to camp." And the way he said it sounded like, "Move your ass, kid."

Was I being too weird? Oh dammit. I nodded in agreement and made to head back towards camp with him, but stopped dead.

"Thorin?" I choked, the last syllable going high, and I blindly reached behind to grab for him, too stunned to look away from the valley below.

He was back beside me in an instant, his face turning from me to where my gaze was cast.

"A-am I seeing thi-ings or is something moving out there?"

Thorin grabbed my arm to make sure I didn't topple over the ledge as he narrowed his eyes at the dark landscape. "Fili! Kili!" he hissed, not taking his eyes from the valley nor his hand off my arm.

The princes were up and flanking us in a blink of an eye.

"Uncle?" questioned Kili, looking between us worriedly but Fili had already followed our eyes and was scoping the inky land.

"What do you see?" asked Thorin, perhaps trusting a pair of younger eyes over his own.

"Thorin?" Dwalin had come up behind us.

"There's something out there!" cried Kili, and a bout of mutterings and concerned voices arose from camp.

"I am not sure what," said Fili slowly. "There are maybe a dozen. Maybe more hidden. And… it is hard to see but, I do not think they move like Men…"

"Orcs?" growled Thorin, his profile a snarl.

"No," answered Fili quickly. "Sorry, the figures don't appear to walk at all!"

"There is no gait to their strides," conveyed Kili, shaking his head in confusion. "It is as if… they are gliding."

"Take up arms, all of you!" Gandalf whispered urgently.

"Gandalf?" Thorin questioned, his tone demanding answers.

The Wizard looked back at him gravely. "Something foul has followed us here."