Hey all! A little bit later than I intended with this, which I do apologise for. But, I do hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 9

Early the next morning, just before dawn, I am gently shaken awake by Thorin who lets me know it's time to wake up. Looking at Aiden, who is sleeping away next to me, I decide to let him sleep a little more and leave him while Bilbo, the dwarves and I get everything ready to go. I eat a quick breakfast, saving some for Aiden before getting my bedroll and blanket into my pack. When I finish, I turn to Aiden, hesitant to wake him, but know I have to. Reaching out, I gently shake his shoulder.

"Aiden? Come on, Aiden, it's time to wake up, sweetheart."

He groans as he stirs and opens his eyes to look at me. "It's too early, mummy."

I smile at his stubbornness, knowing exactly who he got it from. Me. "I know sweetie, but we have to go soon."

He yawns as he sits up and I pass him his breakfast while I pack away his bedroll and blanket. When I finish, I brush his hair and then my own while everyone else is finishing getting ready. Thorin then calls for us to move out and we sneak out of the valley, not wanting to be stopped by the elves, by hiking along a path on a cliff edge which leads out of Rivendell.

"Be on your guard; we're about to step over the edge of the wild. Balin, you know these paths, lead on." Thorin says to the older dwarf as he steps aside.

"Aye." Balin replies as he walks on.

I see Bilbo standing and looking back at Rivendell longingly. I stop besides him and places a hand on his shoulder. "You'll be back here, one day."

He sighs. "I hope you're right."

Wincing slightly, I feel a sharp tug in my head before I see an older version of Bilbo sitting on a bench in Rivendell. I shake my head slightly. No idea where that came from. But, I smile as I give his shoulder a firm and a reassuring squeeze.

"I'm pretty sure you will." I tell him with a smile.

He smiles back and continues to look at the elven city.

"Master Baggins, Sophia, I suggest you both keep up."

I look back and see him standing, leaning against his axe as he watches us. As I'm looking at him standing there, I can't help but feel something in my chest. A jolt, a tug. I'm not sure what it is. Though, it may have something to do with how attractive I find he is. I don't think I've felt this strongly about a man before Thorin.

I just smile. "We'll be right there, Thorin. Don't worry."

He looks to me and gives a slight tilt of his head in acknowledgement before he turns away. I feel myself take in a deep breath. What's wrong with me? Just that was enough to make me swoon!

Looking back to Rivendell, I take off my rucksack and put it at my feet before reaching in to get my phone and proceed to take a picture of the city, the rising sun making it almost sparkle. Putting the phone away, I put my rucksack back on before wrapping an arm around Bilbo's shoulders as we walk back in line with the others, Aiden now holding my hand.

"Are you sure you'll think I'll make it out of this?" Bilbo asks.

I smile. "I'm sure of it."

I don't know how I know this, maybe it was from the slight vision I just had, or just from my own gut, but I do know Bilbo will survive this quest and will one day come back to the elven city.

"Me too!" Aiden calls up.

Bilbo and I smile at him.

"Well, if you say so, then I am inclined to believe you."

Aiden smiles wide at this before he moves and puts himself between Bilbo and I, taking both of our hands as we walk. I smile at this, knowing that Aiden has happily accepted Bilbo into his small bubble of people he trusted. Maybe coming here was best for us after all. It's certainly helped Aiden to come out of his shell a little more. Bilbo and I just smile at each other as we continue to walk on, the both of us talking away with one another, with Aiden interjecting every now and then.

Over the next few days, we continue walking along the wilderness, walking towards the mountains in the distance, which are the Misty Mountains, or so Balin says. Every chance I get, I manage to get some pictures taken of the beautiful scenery as we're walking, even taking pictures of the others when asked.

When he gets tired, I have often seen Aiden being offered piggy back rides by some of the other dwarves. I have also often seen the dwarves making the journey entertaining for Aiden; Bofur breaking out into song a time or two, Fili and Kili playing with him – which makes me happy as I hear his giggles – Balin tells him stories, as well as Ori and even though they can't speak the same language, Aiden often walks with Bifur in a comfortable silence.

At nights when we rest, Fili and Kili continue with my training, Dwalin offering his advice like he did in Rivendell, Fili doing the same with Aiden.

Soon enough, we come close to the bottom of the mountains. Looking up at them, I can see and feel the daunting task that's going to come; crossing over them, I only hope that Aiden will manage. Balin, who I am walking with, senses my trepidation and pats my arm reassuringly.

"Don't worry, lassie, we'll help him over."

I smile at him, thankful for his words. Just then, there's the sound of a scuffle followed by a thud and then the sound that breaks my heart; Aiden crying. Whipping around, I look past the others of the company, who have also stopped, and see Aiden being lifted from the ground by Fili and Kili. I instantly run over, the mama bear inside coming out, worrying over her cub.

"Aiden! What happened!?" I ask as I kneel in front of him.

Aiden just falls into my arms, crying into my chest. I hold him close as I look up at Fili who answers for me, his face full of grief, sorrow and apologies.

"He tripped on a rock and fell. I tried to catch him, but I wasn't quick enough. I'm so sorry."

I just smilein reassurance. "Don't be. Accidents happen. Thank you both for helping him."

He and his younger brother smile as I pull Aiden back to look over him, just as Oin joins us. I can see a graze on his chin where he knocked it, cuts on his hands from trying to stop the fall and deep cuts on his knees, the trousers having been torn by the sharp rocks. Looking closer, I can see some small stones and dirt within the cuts.

Thorin kneels next to me to check him. "Is he alright?"

I smile. "He'll be fine. Just a few cuts that need seeing to before we can move on."

After checking the injuries and then looking to the slowly setting sun, he nods.

"Alright. We'll rest here for tonight. Gloin, get a fire going."

"Aye, Thorin." Gloin says as he gets started.

Picking up Aiden, Oin leads us to a place to sit near the fire where I take mine and Aiden's packs off and sit down. Setting Aiden onto his feet, I reach into my pack to pull out a cloth and use some of my water to dampen it as Oin begins to prepare to wash his knees, as well as removing the stones. I make shushing and soothing noises to Aiden as he whimpers just from me cleaning his chin.

"It's okay, sweetheart. You'll need to be brave for this. Can you do that, be brave for mummy?"

He sniffles and nods, allowing me to clean up his hands, putting on Oin's poultice and wrapping his hands in bandages. Once Oin was ready, I remove Aiden's trousers and pass them to Dori, who offered to mend the holes, which I thank him for.

I get Aiden to sit sideways in my lap, his legs hanging over my right leg, Oin sits to my right side as Fili sits on my left, rubbing Aiden's back. Kili, after passing Aiden his Simba, sits in front of me, gently rubbing his left arm. Between the three of us, we try to keep him as calm as possible, until Oin begins his work. Aiden begins to cry as Oin is firmly but gently trying to get the dirt and stones from out of his knees, his head in my chest as he holds tight to his plush. Having had to have small stones removed from my own knees when I was eight, I knew how painful this is for him, and it hurts I can't do anything for him except to hold him, soothe him and try my best to keep him calm and not kick out at Oin. As every mother does, she wants to be able to take the pain from their child in that instant, to keep them safe and protected, and to hear his cries, it kills me and makes me feel useless.

About half an hour later, Oin is finally done, having tied off the last bandage.

"There you are, lad. You were very brave." Oin says with a gentle and fond pat on Aiden's head before he turns and cleans up.

At my askance, Fili fetches me Aiden's blanket and I use it to wrap around him to keep him warm, not wanting to put his trousers on just yet and aggravating his legs any more than necessary. So, instead, I hold him in a cocoon of his blanket and my arms as his cries reduce down to whimpers and soon snuffles, the whimpers coming back when he moves his legs and the pain hits. Oin soon returns with a tea that will help with the pain and after allowing it to cool, I encourage Aiden to drink it and soon enough, Aiden is just laying against me, listen and giving watery giggles as Bofur tells him a story.

Once he has eaten his supper, I get Aiden laid down on his bedroll, all tucked up in his blanket. Fili also puts his coat over him to give him an extra bit of warmth, which makes me smile. Holding him close, I begin singing Hushabye Mountain to him and thankfully, he falls straight to sleep, drifting off even before I've finished singing. I stay with him for a few moments, making sure he's sound asleep before getting up gently so I don't wake him and walk away. The young brothers stay with him as I sit a bit away from everyone on a boulder to look over the plains.

This world is really beautiful, there is nothing like this back home. I am somewhat glad that Aiden and I have come here, but I can't also help but think about Galadriel's words and what will happen at the end of this journey, we will be going home. I don't know if I want to go back and send Aiden back to the hell that is waiting for us. He has come so far in just a few short weeks, I don't want to set him back.

"Are you alright?"

Turning, I see Thorin standing behind me.

"Yes, just thinking."

He sits beside me as I look back out.

"How is Aiden?

I smile at his concern for my son. "He is fine. He's a trooper, always has been."

He looks to me in confusion for a moment at the word trooper, before I assume he fixes another word that's similar to it as he nods.

"Fili and Kili were the same at that age. Taking a tumble and getting up again. Although, to be fair, dwarflings are more resilient and sturdier than human children and are often not fazed by falls, unless it is serious."

My heart flutters as I watch the twinkle in his eyes, which is forever there when he talks about his nephews.

"Your nephews have grown into fine young men, dwarrow, you and your sister have done a good job in raising them. You must be proud."

He smiles. "We are. Even though they can frustrate me with their pranks, I will forever be proud of them."

I smile back as I turn to look over the horizon again.

After a moment of silence, Thorin turns to me. "When we first met the lad, he was really afraid of us. I can understand being afraid of strangers, but I only notice he is like that with only strange males. If I may ask, what happened to cause that fear?"

I got quiet for a moment before turning to him. "You once asked me about his father, and I said how he was out of the picture. That much is true. But, let me just say that he was not a good man to either of us."

He looks to me in surprise, his eyes glancing to the side of my face where the bruise once was. "Did he. . .?"

"Among other things. I might tell you one day, but not now. I'm not ready yet to reveal that."

He nods understandingly at this. "No wonder he is so afraid. I think any child would be in that situation.

I nod. "Yes, but I am happy he seems to be settling in well with you and the others. He really loves you all, I can tell."

He gives a little smile at this. "We have grown to love him, too. He's a brave lad. You must be proud of him."

I smile. "I really am, admittedly, he's had to grow up more than a child his age should. But, since coming here, he's really come out of his shell a lot.

Thorin nods, taking in what I said. "Just so you know, we would never bring any harm on you both. We value women and children above anything else."

I give him a grateful smile. "I believe you. I feel safe around you all, as I know Aiden feels the same."

His smile widens a little more at this. "Go get some sleep. We have a big climb tomorrow."

I look to the mountains and give a little groan. "One I am not looking forward to."

He gives a small chuckle. "Neither am I."

I grin as I walk over to Aiden and lay beside him, soon falling asleep with him snuggling into me.

There we have it. Poor little Aiden getting hurt, but he'll be fine. He's a tough little one. Also, nice little moment with Thorin and Sophia, bonding over children. Hope you all enjoyed it. Please keep your lovely reviews coming in, I love hearing from you all xx