Chapter Eleven:

The company had already left Bree and were continuing on their route through the Great East road on their ponies, warg in Bella's case. The company's trek so far seemed to go smoothly, up until it began to rain heavily, causing the company to become soaking wet and miserable.

Although, the rest of the company could see that Bella and Feydra were not emotionally affected by the rain, they seemed to quite enjoy it.

"Here, Mr. Gandalf!" Called out Dori. "Can't you do something about this deluge?"

The wizard turned around indignantly before speaking, "It is raining, master dwarf, and it will continue to rain until the rain is done. If you wish to change the weather of the world, perhaps you should find yourself another wizard."

At his words, Bella and Ori perked up, meeting each others eyes eagerly at the prospect of more knowledge.

"Are there any?" Bella asked.

"What?"

"Other wizards?"

"There are five of us." Gandalf began to explain. In the corner of Bella's eye, she could see Ori taking a piece of charcoal to his hand to write this down, his paper would've ripped from the rain. "The greatest of our order is Saruman, the white. Then there are the two blue wizards; you know I've quite forgotten their names."

At that last part, Bella and Ori both visibly deflated at the lost knowledge.

"And who is the fifth?" Bella asked once more.

"Well that would be Radagast, the brown." The grey wander answered her.

"Is he a great wizard, or is he more like you?" Bella asked smirking. All around her she could hear the company snickering, even Feydra let out a huff of laughter. Up ahead, Bella could see Thorin smirking.

Gandalf turned back to her mildly offended, but not actually mad at the hobbit he considered a granddaughter.

"I think he's a very great wizard." He told her. "In his own way. He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals to others."

"I don't blame him. I don't know where I'd be without Feydra." Bella reached forward to pet the wargs ear, said warg preening at the attention.

Eventually, the company came to a stop after the rain stopped, stopping at what looked to be old ruins. At least a first glance, but if one looked closely, it was the ruins of an old farmhouse.

"We'll camp here for the night." Thorin declared to the company. "Fili, Kili, look after the ponies. Make sure you stay with them."

Gandalf stepped up to the threshold of the farmhouse ruins and looked around cautiously. "A farmer and his family used to live here."

"Oin, Gloin," Thorin called out. "Get a fire going." He continuted to give out the tasks for the company, not paying any mind to what Gandalf was saying. Bella, however was listening in, sensing the worry in Gandalfs words and body language.

"I think it would be wiser to move on. We could make for the hidden valley." Gandalf told Thorin, who appeared to not like that suggestion.

"I have told you already, I will not go near that place." The dwarf lord grumbled lowly.

Bella listened in but stayed a little ways away, making the decision to step in only when it got out of hand or if their voices raised.

"Why not? The elves could help us." Gandalf replied. "We could get food, rest, advice."

"I do not need their advice." Thorin grumbled.

'Oh dear,' Bella thought to herself. 'I knew dwarves could be stubborn, but to have a hatred for elves all based on the behavior of one elf king.'

"We have a map we cannot read; Lord Elrond will help us."

"Help? A dragon attacks Erebor, what help came from the elves?" A dark look passed over Thorin's eyes. Pain was visible, but so was anger. "Orcs plunder Moria, desecrate our sacred halls, and the elves looked on and did nothing. You ask me to seek out the very people who betrayed my grandfather? Who betrayed my father?"

"You are neither of them." Gandalf argued back. "I did not give you that map and key for you to hold onto the past."

"I did not know they were yours to keep." Thorin growled at him, at this Bella stepped forward.

"Thorin!" Bella admonished and took his hand in her own. He turned to her and had the smallest decency to look ashamed, but that vanished when he turned back to Gandalf who was frowning deeply.

The wizard turned around and began to walk away.

"Gandalf, where are you going?" Bella called out as she released Thorin's hand to follow after him.

"To seek the company of the only one around here who's got any sense?" Gandalf grumbled as he walked off.

"And who is that?"

"Myself, Miss Baggins!" He yelled out and Bella barely managed to catch the last thing he said. "I've had enough of dwarves for one day."

"Oh bebother and confusticate that wizard!" Bella exclaimed. "I have half a mind to drag him back hear by his scarf and beard and box his ears with his own staff!"

The dwarves parted away for Bella to walk past them, none of them looking to be on the receiving end of her anger.

"Come on, Bombur. We're hungry."

"And you sir! Don't think you'll get away that easily!" Bella pointed to Thorin whose eye widened at the raised voice. "Don't let a centuries old grudge against one elf keep you from alliances with other elven nations!"

Bella walked away after that, still mumbling about stubborn dwarves and grumbling whiny wizards. She figured she could take out her frustrations on chopping vegetables and slicing the conies for dinner.

"Ha! Spitfire, that one." Dwalin said, nudging Thorin with his elbow. The dwarf king glared at his friend and brother in arms, shoving his shoulder, making Dwalin laugh as Thorin walked away.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Bella paced back and forth while Bofur handed out the bowls of stew. She began to worry as time passed and Gandalf still hadn't returned. It was nightfall already and Bella couldn't help but think the worst had happened.

"He's been gone a long time." Bella said to no one in particular.

"Who?" Replied Bofur.

"Gandalf!"

"He's a wizard, he does as he chooses." He said shrugging his shoulders, the flaps of his hat seeming to follow the movement. "Here, do us a favor and take these to the lads."

Bella nodded and grabbed the two bowls of stew to bring to Fili and Kili, hearing Bofur tell Bombur that he's had plenty of stew already.

The hobbit walked a short distance away to where Fili and Kili were standing, coming up between them to hand them the bowls.

When neither made a move to grab them, she saw that they were standing stock still looking at the herd of ponies.

"What's wrong?" She asked them.

"We're supposed to be looking after the ponies." Kili said.

"Only we've encountered a slight problem." Fili said next, looking a little ashamed.

"We had 16."

"Now there's 14."