There was no end to the muttering and groaning Bilbo was making from behind Ali on their shared saddle. It really didn't bother her though, either the sharp rocking or the complaining. Instead she found herself listening to the men around her.
So far Ali was pretty sure she had the names memorized, actually it had been easier than she suspected. From what she had gathered so far if a name rhymed then there was a close family relation. In fact with all the rhyming she felt as if she was reciting Santa's reindeer.
"What you going on 'bout Santa?" Bofur asked, pulling his pony up next to theirs.
"What?" Ali asked, she had heard him alright, but was hoping he would just keep moving.
"Santa, ya said we was like Santa's deer? Then ya muttered somethin' like, 'on Ori, on Dori, on Nori, and Gloin. On Bifur, on Bofur, on Bombur, and Oin. On Fili, on Kili, on Balin, Dwalin and Thorin.'" Bofur swayed back and forth with his pony, and Ali cursed his unusually good memory.
"That was impressive that you could repeat that, I bet you're a great story teller." Ali smiled hoping he would take the bait and change the subject.
To her surprise he did, "bit more of a singer than storyteller, care to hear?"
"Of course I would, I hear such wonderful things about dwarven songs," Ali prodded, it was only half a lie, she had seen them singing in Snow White. That was all it took for the man to break into a smile from ear to ear, and not much more for him to break into a little diddy about drinking.
It continued that way until the sun began to set. They had just reached a nook in the path when Thorin called for a halt. Ali did her best to slide off the somber little pony, but to even the most untrained eye it was more of a fall. Strait down. It brought a roar of laughter from the young brothers, Kili practically rolled off his own pony. Thorin on the other hand didn't seem so impressed, in fact he looked down right angry.
Ali shot up and side stepped around behind the pony as he moved her way. She pretended to be too preoccupied dusting herself off to notice as he rounded the pony as well.
"Are you hurt?" Thorin asked, his voice softer than she expected.
"Um, no," Ali hesitated, waiting for him to make some biting remark, when he didn't she continued on her own, "and I fell away from the pony, so he's okay as well." She patted the quiet little chestnut mare, but he continued to remain silent. Chancing a glance over she caught his eyes for a second before returning to the pony, his face didn't hold that resentment that it had in Bilbo's home. She let the thought cross her mind that maybe this would be a turning point for them, maybe it had just been a bad day for him.
"You look to be some sort of joke in that jacket," Thorin turned sharply and left her alone. Apparently it was still a bad day.
She made an effort to not look like she was in pain, but her legs were sore and she was fairly sure she understood why cowboys walked the way they did. Really all she wanted to do was curl up and sleep.
Until she heard something, like a shriek, or cry. Whatever it was she bolted up to see her expression mirrored on Bilbo's face.
"What was that?" Bilbo asked, glancing to Fili and Kili who exchanged a knowing look.
"That would be an orc party, out hunting," Kili whispered. Ali just laid back down, a group of men dressed like dwarves, a group of men dressed like orcs. At this point she wasn't even surprised by this anymore.
For the first time in a while though Ali found sleep evading her. Instead she curled into her jacket listening to Balin tell tales about Thorin, orcs, and his father. The man was a talented story teller, his words flowing effortlessly, voice hitching at the right moments. For a moment she actually believed that he had seen those things. If that was his back story then Ali understood why the others followed him. Any man who could watch his father perish and yet put that aside for the greater good of his people would be considered a hero back home.
It wasn't until Bilbo curled up with his back to hers that she was able to find any sleep.
When Thorin called for a halt next to the remains of an old farm house Ali fell off her pony yet again. This time it was more relief than anything. Years spent sleeping on the ground was one thing, but that saddle was beginning to be torture.
Doing her best not to waddle around Ali followed on Gandalf's heels over to the house. Just as she opened her mouth to ask how she could help the hairs on Ali's arms stood on end. It felt as if she had been struck in the chest as she stumbled back confused and shocked. Looking around it didn't seem as if any of the others had been affected in the slightest.
This time she approached with more caution, easing her way into the ruins. It was uncomfortable to say the least, as if thousands of bugs where crawling over her body. Ali decided that it might be best if she returned to her pony for a bit.
"We should keep moving," Gandalf boomed.
"Thank god," Ali breathed.
"No, we camp here for the night," Thorin challenged, throwing orders to the others to begin setting up for the night.
"Fili, Kili, watch the ponies," Thorin barked, ignoring Gandalf's protest.
"Gandalf where are you going?" Ali heard Bilbo yell as he pushed past her.
"To seek the council of the only one here with any sense, myself!" Gandalf boomed as he disappeared.
"Is it really smart to ignore what he says?" Ali asked the brothers as they were unsaddling them.
Kili just shrugged, "we will follow Thorin to Mahal if so be it."
"He is our king and uncle," Fili continued hefting off his saddle and laying it over a fallen tree.
"Fair enough," Ali nodded grabbing the nearest horse and fumbling with the buckle that held the saddle on, this was their game after all. Nothing budged though, it was so tight that Ali began to wonder how these ponies even breathed.
"Here let me get that," Fili chuckled, grabbing at the buckle.
Ali smacked his hand, "no, let me help," so far she had felt like they were just humoring her being here. As she struggled though she began to think that maybe this wasn't the best route to help. Putting her whole body into it she pulled up as hard as possible, sliding it a fraction up and popping it out of the hole. Panting Ali smiled at herself, releasing one hand to try and move the synch up. Instantly it snapped back into place.
This time she braced herself and pulled up even farther, hoping that she could move fast enough to snap it out of the way. Again the saddle moved faster than she did.
"It will only take a second for me…" Fili was behind her again, reaching around to grab the strap.
"No," Ali protested again, pushing her back against his chest to move him out of reach. Unfortunately that was like pushing against a brick wall.
"You're going to take all night," Fili muttered as he grabbed the synch himself.
"I want to help somehow," Ali gritted her teeth and in a last ditch effort shoved her hands between his and the buckle.
At first Fili moved slow, taking his hands away so that she knew he was backing off. Then like lightning he grabbed her by the waist, pulling her back into his chest, both feet lifting off the ground. As he finished the spin she saw Kili step up and flick the buckle open like it was nothing.
As fast as it started it was over, Ali facing the fire and Fili's arms slipping away. "Why don't you go see if they need any help?" Fili whispered into her ear.
Ali stomped up to the company mumbling, "just you watch, I'll be a help to you somehow."
They did in fact not let her help with the food though, claiming that they were practically done anyways. Sighing in defeat she took up her normal spot by Bilbo.
"'Ey Bilbo, do us a favor and take these ta the boys," Bofur called as Bombur shoved two bowls in his hands.
"I could go?" Ali interjected quickly but Bilbo was already rising.
"It's alright, I'll be right back," Bilbo mumbled.
Really? Ali thought, she had literally just asked if she could help and they glossed right over her for Bilbo. Maybe it was because she wasn't like them. Racist bastards.
"Trolls!" Kili yelled as he broke through the trees, running full tilt into their circle. Fili was only a step behind, skidding to a halt behind his brother.
"Trolls have Bilbo!" Fili gasped, more panicked than actually out of breath.
"What happened?" Thorin rumbled.
"Lost the ponies, trolls stole them, Bilbo went after, trolls stole Bilbo," Kili summed up. "This way," he motioned taking back off, the rest on his heels.
Ali shot up from her seat following in Bofur's wake.
"Not you," Thorin stepped in front of her, his voice cold, "I don't want you to get in anyone's way."
Just as Ali was about to open her mouth to protest Thorin turned and disappeared into the woods. It didn't take a psychologist to know that those words would hurt. She did her best to grit her teeth and sit back down.
Now Ali never generally let herself complain too much, but this was becoming a bit ridiculous. Sure she wasn't dressed up in some kind of costume, waving around a sword and pretending to reclaim her homeland. It would have been easy enough to just point her in a general direction and that would have been the end of it.
Ali glanced at the now shadow of the house and a shiver ran up her spine. On the tree beside her was a now abandoned flask, she glanced around and back down to it. Normally she wasn't a drinker, but somewhere between the creepy house, the dark sky, and just generally being ignored Ali pushed that aside.
It was probably the strongest thing she had ever swallowed she thought as it burned down her throat and then threatened to burn on the way back up. Ali leaned back and blinked away the burning tears that it had brought on.
"Whooo," she sighed when she knew it would stay down. Already Ali could feel it as she jumped to her feet. "I'm going to go and demand that they…. That they something!" Ali boasted to herself. It was the liquor talking and she knew it, but what harm could a little liquid courage do. Taking another drag Ali re-corked the flask because she wasn't so buzzed as to leave other people things a mess and strutted off down the path after the dwarves.
Another chapter down and things are about to pick up!
Thank you for reading this far, and to everyone who have Favorited or commented on this story.
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