Chapter 12: Missing Ponies
At that moment, the company had reached an old ruined farm. "We'll camp here for the night." Thorin said. Gandalf, Selindra and Varder inspected the ruined house. "Fili, Kili, Qili, look after the ponies. Make sure you stay with them." Thorin said. "A farmer and his family used to live here." Gandalf said. "What happened to them?" Varder asked. "I don't know. Looks like something tore through the entire house." Selindra said. "Oin, Gloin, Moin. Get a fire going." Thorin said.
"I think it would be wiser to move on." Gandalf said, getting a bad feeling about the wrecked farm. "But where will we go?" Tharia asked as she and Thorin walked into the house. "We could make for the hidden valley." Gandalf suggested. "I agree. That's probably a better idea." Selindra said. "I've told you already. I will not go near that place." Thorin said venomously. "Why not? The Elves could help us. We can get food, rest, advice." Gandalf said. "I do not need their advice." Thorin said venomously once again. "We have a map we cannot read. Lord Elrond could help us." Gandalf said. "Gandalf's right. Lord Elrond has quite the talent for discovering hidden secrets. Especially if he still reads ancient Dwarvish." Selindra said, winking at Varder. "Thorin, I'm afraid I have to agree. It would be wise to ask the Elves for help." Tharia said. "Help? A dragon attacks Erebor. What help came from the Elves? Orcs plunder Moria, desecrate our sacred halls. The Elves looked on and did nothing!" Thorin snapped. "You all ask me to seek out the very people who betrayed our grandfather, who betrayed our father." "You are neither of them. I did not give you that map and key for you to hold on to the past!" Gandalf said. "I did not know they were yours to keep." Thorin said.
Gandalf was now frustrated with Thorin's stubbornness. As was Selindra. "Come, Selindra. We're leaving." Gandalf said, leaving in frustration. "With pleasure, Gandalf." Selindra said as she followed. "Everything alright?" Bilbo asked. "Gandalf, Selindra, where are you going?" Belinda asked. "To seek the company of the only one around here who's got any sense." Gandalf said. "And who's that?" Bilbo asked. "Myself, Mr. Baggins!" Gandalf snapped. "I've had enough of Dwarves for one day." "As have I." Selindra agreed. Tharia glared at her brother. "Nice." She grumbled before going over to her pony. "Come on, Bombur, we're hungry." Thorin called to Bombur. "Are they coming back?" Bilbo asked. Balin shrugged as they watched Gandalf and Selindra leave.
Later that night, the Dwarves all settled down for dinner. Bilbo and Belinda were getting worried about Gandalf and Selindra. "They've been a long time." Bilbo said. "Who?" Bofur asked as he filled a bowl filled with stew. "Gandalf and Selindra." Bilbo said. "They've been gone all afternoon." Belinda said. "He's a wizard and she's his apprentice. They do as they choose." Bofur assured before handing the Hobbits a few bowls of stew. "Here. Do us a favor, take these to the lads and lass." As Bilbo and Belinda left, Bombur took his ladle and tried to take some more stew. "Stop it. You've had plenty." Bofur said, stopping his brother. "Aye, it's not a bad stew, Bombur. I've had worse." Gloin said. "Dori could've cooked it." Nori joked, making the others laugh. "Hilarious." Dori said unamused.
Bilbo and Belinda walked over to where Fili, Kili and Qili were looking after the ponies. They handed to bowls to them, but they were zoned out. "What's the matter?" Bilbo asked. "We're supposed to be looking after the ponies." Kili said. "Only we've encountered a slight problem." Fili said. "What kind of problem?" Belinda asked. "We had 20. But now there's 18." Qili said, pointing out that 2 of their ponies were gone.
They looked around to see which ones were missing. "Daisy and Bungo are missing." Kili said. "Well, that's not good. And that is not good at all." Bilbo said, seeing a few trees pushed over. "Shouldn't we tell Thorin and Tharia?" Belinda asked. "Uh, no. Let's not worry them." Fili said. "But as our official burglars, we thought you 2 would like to look into it." Qili offered. "Well, it looks like something big booted these trees." Bilbo pointed out. "That was our thinking." Kili said. "Something very big and possibly quite dangerous." Bilbo added. "Probably whatever made this track." Belinda said, finding a big footprint. "This is a very familiar looking track." Qili said. "But what could make a track that big?" Bilbo asked.
Just then, Fili spotted something. "Hey. There's a light. Over here." He whispered, gesturing to the others. "Stay down." Kili whispered as the 5 hid behind one of the fallen trees. Grunting and laughter came from where the light glowed. "What is it?" Bilbo asked. "Trolls." Kili said. Fili, Kili and Qili ran out to get a closer look. Bilbo and Belinda started to follow, but they went back to grab the bowls. As they got closer, Fili, Kili and Qili hid behind another tree. As Bilbo and Belinda began to catch up, they spotted a Troll walking past, carrying 2 more ponies. Bilbo and Belinda hid behind another tree as the Troll passed them with the scared ponies. "He's got Myrtle and Minty." Bilbo whispered. "What're they going to do to them?" Belinda whispered. "I think they're going to eat them. We have to do something." Bilbo whispered. "Yes. You 2 should." Kili whispered. "Us?!" Belinda whispered in shock. "Yes. Mountain Trolls are slow and stupid and you 2 are so small. They'll never see you." Kili whispered. "Us. No, no, no, no." Bilbo objected. "It's perfectly safe." Kili whispered. "Don't worry. We'll be right behind you." Qili whispered as her brothers took their bowls. "If you run into trouble, hoot twice like a barn owl and once like a brown owl." Fili whispered as he sent the 2 Hobbits out.
"Twice like a barn owl, hoot twice like a brown- hoots like a- like a ba-" Bilbo stuttered. "It's hoot twice like a barn owl and once like a brown owl." Belinda whispered. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" Bilbo asked. But Fili, Kili and Qili were already gone.