They had been riding for a short while now, keeping their ponies at a slow pace in the woods just outside of Bag End. Truly, it really was a nice place, certainly a change from the dullness of the Blue Mountains, where he and his brother had spent the majority of their lives.

In Hobbiton, Fili had noticed of how the hobbits led a simple life, spending their days around their houses, dining with friends, selling things here, trading there… It was just so strange… Neither him or his brother had ever seen anything like this in their lifetime before, their uncle constantly behind them repeating they should take their duties as princes seriously.

Now though, they'd entered a forest of the surrounding area, which gave them an escape from the beating sun for a while, thankfully. The company in itself was relatively quiet, except for the outbursts coming from Dori and Dwalin, who were expressing how visiting the hobbit last night had been a complete waste of time. He could see them arguing from atop his pony, at the back of the group, next to his brother. Hadn't they been among the first to dig into the meal they'd been "offered" last night tough?

His uncle and Gandalf were both leading the company, at the front, probably discussing more important matters than visiting hobbits and helping themselves to others meals.

Turning around as he heard commotion to his right, he smirked as Kili's pony kept trying to nibble the fur of Balin's white one, who was riding in front of them. His brother was desperately trying to keep control over the little brown beast, but wasn't very successful. After pulling gently on the reigns and even making it do circles, Kili's stubborn pony was still desperate to nudge it's musle in the back of Balin's one. Smirking he gave his brother a look, which made Kili turn bright red.

"You all right there, laddie?" Balin asked as he turned around, wondering what was all the commotion the brothers were doing . The lads were supposed to be able to horse ride, Thorin had told them that neither Kili nor Fili had any problems when it came to dealing with ponies, but the ruckus he kept hearing was starting to make him think otherwise.

"Fine, Mister Balin" Kili replied, although his voice didn't seem really fine at all "It's just… Your bum… I mean your pony… No my pony… Trying to bite the bum…" He was losing it completely, he couldn't even formulate a phrase! Fili chuckled, and Balin gave him an understanding smile, before turning around and go back to whatever he'd been talking about with Dori.

"I'd like to see you try, dear brother" Kili snorted, although not really angry at his brother. If he were to be angry at anyone, it would be at the poor pony he was riding.

Fili had been about to shoot out a well aimed joke about how his brother about how he couldn't have wished for a more fitting pony, having the same hair color and everything, when all the dwarves suddenly stopped at the sound of a "WAIT!" . Turning around to his brother once more, he gave him a knowing smile, and the I told you so look. Indeed, the dwarves, initiated by Gandalf, had been debating whether Mister Baggins would show up this morning to accompany them or not.

While Thorin didn't take part in the conversation, not deeming it of any interest, the others had had quite a ramble with it. And after a while, they'd taken wages on whether the hobbit would arrive, obviously late, and ask to join them. Most of the dwarves had laughed, and sided with the idea that, no, Mister Baggins would rather stay in the safety of his house and the comfort of what he knew. However, Oin, Balin, Gandalf and himself had stood by that Bilbo would show up eventually, and when their burglar finally did show up, he shot his brother a look, to emphasize how he'd been right all along.

After letting Balin check Bilbo's signature on the contract, Thorin ordered them to give the hobbit a pony. Fili turned towards his brother as they heard their new companion protesting, saying he could keep up fine on foot. Of course he could… Giving Kili a wink, they snuck up behind their burglar and before he could utter a sound, they both lifted him up, and settled him on their extra pony, the one carrying all the packages and tools they'd be needing. Excluding Thorin and Bilbo himself, they earned themselves a laugh from the other dwarves before they set off again, and Kili rode up to join Ori and Dori.

Fili stayed behind, after all, somebody had to stay with their burglar, and as everybody seemed to be going back to whatever they'd been talking about before the arrival of his timely arrival, he slowed his pony, and decided to ride next to Bilbo, who was having a hard time just trying to adjust his reigns.

"So, Mister Baggins, what made you change your mind? If I recall well, last night, you seemed pretty adamant to stay in your cozy little home" Fili chuckled.

Bilbo, as a matter of fact, didn't really know why he'd come along in the end. It's just that this morning, when he found his house tidy and devoid of dwarves, he felt a kind of emptiness, he didn't really know how to formulate the feeling. But when he'd set eyes on the contract Balin had given him, and the few words he'd exchanged with Gandalf, he just felt a sudden urge to go along, no matter what would happen to him, and so here he was…

"I'm not sure, really…" He trailed off. "Gandalf had always told me about my adventurous Took side, you see, I'm not only a Baggins, but also a Took, who are quite peculiar hobbits believe me, and I guess it just got the better of me this morning, when I eyed Balin's contract that had been left on the table."

He gave a sudden stop in his sentence, and Fili looked back at him, curiously. Bilbo felt his nose twitching, in the most uncomfortable way, the only warning before he gave a huge sneeze, startling his pony. He heard a few laughs coming from in front of him, mostly hearing Gloin and Bofur, before he realized he had a big problem.

"Stop! We need to stop! I… I forgot my handkerchief!" Of course, he had to have forgotten it! But he couldn't go on an adventure without any now, could he? It would be ridiculous! Who would go on a journey like this without thinking of packing extra handkerchiefs? However, to his dismay, the dwarves kept on, not taking notice of their burglar's problem. He thought he heard Bofur say something, before he caught a piece of fabric thrown to him by said dwarf. I wasn't a handkerchief, it wasn't even anything he'd think of blowing his nose in, but never the less, he was grateful.

Gandalf sighed, Bilbo was going to have a hard time learning how to do without his every day comforts, he was in the wild out here, where they had to fend for themselves, and not rely on small trinkets and every day treats the hobbit was used to. It would be hard at the beginning, but he was certain that Bilbo would pull through, after all, he hadn't chosen him to be the company's burglar for nothing… Anyway, he decided he'd trot up to Thorin, to discuss where they would be headed next, knowing Bilbo had nothing to fear surrounded by the others.

Fili also noticed the hobbit's little outburst, and the same thoughts that passed through Gandalf's mind went through his as well. Bilbo wasn't ready for something like this. If he was looking for a handkerchief only a short while after they'd started riding, what else could he have forgotten. Clothes? Tools? Weapons? Meals?

The last thought actually stayed on his mind, noticing that Bilbo, in fact, despite being given the pony with all their gear, didn't seem to have any "second breakfast" as he liked to put it. Shortly after Thorin ordered them to move on, and both Bilbo and Fili gently nudged their ponies forward.

Bilbo was grateful that at least one member of the company would stay behind for him. But being a Took also meant that he was curious. He'd noticed how both Kili and Fili were much younger than any of the other dwarves of the company, they had probably not even reached adulthood in dwarven years yet, and Bilbo wondered why Thorin would bring such young people along with him. He didn't come off as a dwarf who took risks.

He was afraid to speak up, knowing none of the dwarves really wanted him among them, but his curiosity got the better of him, and before he could shut his mouth, the question had already slipped.

"Sorry if I come off as somebody rude, but I've been asking myself why are you and your brother here, on this little adventure I mean? You don't look half the age any of the others are, excluding Ori of course. And I don't think Thorin is the kind of dwarf to accept anybody who would like to join him…"

Fili laughed. And Bilbo stared, what had he said that was so funny? He'd expected the dwarf to not answer at all, or maybe take it as a hurtful remark (which he didn't mean in the slightest, of course!), but certainly not laugh. After calming himself down a bit, the blond looked back at Bilbo.

"Thorin is my uncle, and as he has no children of his own, he decided to bring Kili and I along with him, much to the dismay of my dear father. But you're right, in dwarf years, Kili and I are barely adults, which is why some people back home were a bit reluctant about the idea of letting us go, but Uncle knows how to use words, and after a short conversation with my father, both Kili and I were allowed to go with him."

Bilbo nodded, so Kili and Fili were part of Thorin's family.

"By the way Master Baggins, did you think of bringing any second breakfast with you?" Fili suddenly asked, joking. The dwarves had indeed been intrigued when Bilbo had explained them the hobbit's daily ritual concerning meals, and to his dismay, in all the frenzy he'd been in when running after the company, he'd totally forgotten to pack in any kind of breakfast, which meant he had nothing at all.

Fili noticed the hobbit's features cloud over in panic, and decided he could help him here, at least. He threw over the bag Kili had given him, which contained Fili's lunch, and winked at the startled hobbit. After all, Bilbo would be needing it, and it was that less for him and his pony to carry.

Fili relaxed slightly in his saddle, starting to enjoy Bilbo's company more and more. Maybe Gandalf's idea wasn't so bad after all?