Early the next morning they left the Shire but without Bilbo. At least Lhindril was glad that she became a member of the company. When she remembered what she did, she couldn't help smirking.

All of the Dwarves were sitting around the table and Thorin ate a soup while they were discussing where exactly they wanted to go. Even though Lhindril didn't really belong with the group she stood beside them. All the time she was grinning because she guessed what would about to be happenimg. And eventually Gandalf started rummaging his bag and pockets, when he didn't seem to find what he was looking for he became rather incredulous. But she'd been waiting for that and grabbed a map from her own sachet.

"Are you looking for this?" she asked sanctimoniously. Everyone looked at her in surprise, no one had noticed how she had stolen the map from him, not even the man himself.

"Where did you get this?" Thorin and Gandalf wanted to know simultaneously. Shortly she told the story and hoped it wouldn't get her in any trouble. Sometimes she just did things without even thinking about them.

"Wait", Bilbo demanded "you manged to steal this from a wizard's bag?" Nodding she smiled again. So Gandalf was a wizard? Good to know, Lhindril thought.

"This as well. Just now when we were talking" she declared as she revealed a key. After Gandalf had explained - baffled of course - what these things were Thorin wanted to know if she would like to accompany them because her talent could be very useful. At first Gandalf was sceptic but agreed it wasn't a bad idea. Delighted Lhindril approved, not thinking of the dangers she might had to face. Probably she should have mentioned that she hadn't any combat experience at all.

"Lhindril, do you prefer having your own pony or do you want to ride with one of the Dwarves?" Gandalf interrupted her memories. Fairly jealous she threw a glance at Gandalf's horse which was far too big for her. Even though she was from the race of Men something seemed wrong with her for she wasn't much bigger than most of the Dwarves. Or it was because she had spent so many years out in the wild without much food. Shrugging she wanted to know if there still was a pony which she could have.

"Of course" Bofur, the hatted Dwarf, said. "We have sixteen ponies, even if Bilbo came we would have enough."

"Well, I bet he won't" another Dwarf claimed. Laughing Bofur addressed him.

"I'm in" the whole thing ended that wagers were made whether the Hobbit came or not. Most of them said, he wouldn't. However, Lhindril stayed out of it for she hadn't a stake. But she thought he wouldn't come, considering he fainted and went to bed shortly after, nevertheless she somehow had the feeling he would change his mind. On the other hand, why would he come when she was declared the burglar of the company, with what she took over his task? Suddenly a Dwarf showed up next to her with a pony. After such a long time it was kinda odd for her to be sitting on a steed again. The last time she was riding something dreadful happened and her life changed forever. And even the long break made itself felt because she had difficulties to lead the pony while concentrating on not falling from its back. Cramped and stiff she sat there.

"Everything alright over there?" a concerned voice asked. Fíli. Only when she was asked a second time, Lhindril realised she still was in thoughts. Slightly ashamed she looked around, almost everyone had run past her and she was at the back with Fíli and Kíli, who had presumably slowed down for her.

"I think so", she murmured as an answer for his question. Satisfied they nodded.

"What did you bet about Bilbo?" Kíli inquired. After shrugging she told them that she had nothing with her and didn't believe that Bilbo would show up.

"If you want, we can make bets on our own anyway. The one who wins can make a wish?"

"Why not? Sounds good. What do you say?"

"Kíli shares your opinion but I almost think he will come" Fíli explained and Kíli grinned.

"Why should he come, considering his behaviour? Plus, we have Lhindril, who can fulfil his task as well."

"My thoughts exactly, but I know a few things about Hobbits, they often do unexpected or surprising things"

"Now it's too late to change your mind. But if he really should stay at home, what would you want from me?" Fíli asked

"I don't know yet, I'd think about it when the time has come. What about you?"

"Well, I think you know what I would want to have from you" Kíli declared with a sneer and Fíli just rolled his eyes, then he turned towards Lhindril.

"I know already what I want from my brother but from you I would have to think about it when the time has come" the conversation fell silent, their steeds slowly trotting next to one another. All of a sudden she heard someone shouting and turned around in surprise. Bilbo ran towards them and she noticed Fíli throwing his brother and herself triumphant looks, whereas Kíli just stared back broodily.

"Oh well" she commented shrugging "a bet is a bet. So what do you want?"

"I don't know yet." meanwhile, Bilbo handed the contract to Balin, who welcomed the Hobbit. Thorin told his company to give him a pony, which tried to refuse but Fíli and Kíli just grabbed him and lifted him on the free pony. Somehow Lhindril was glad that she wasn't right about Bilbo because she already felt like she was in their debt. Kíli on the other hand seemed quite upset and rummaged around his sachet and fetched a leather purse. He just wanted to throw it to his brother, who put him off.

"Never mind" puzzled she looked at both of them when Fíli continued "Instead I want you not to do anything stupid or reckless while we're on our quest" then he addressed himself to the woman "As you might know we're from Ered Luin and Bree isn't really along the way to the Shire… But because we were early, my brother had the glorious idea to make a tiny detour and then spend a night in Bree. Much to my chagrin"

"I already said I'm sorry. I really thought the way to Bree was shorter. And you know I won't do anything stupid reckless"

"We shall see"

-oOo-

The following days they rode without notable events, except that Bilbo once stopped them all and wanted to turn around because he had forgotten his handkerchief. Fortunately, Bofur gave him one and they could go on very soon. But about three weeks after they left, all were resting around a large fire in the evening. Lhindril sat down beside the Dwarves and listened to their stories, and Bilbo suddenly joined her.

"May I ask, where you're from?"

"Of course you may" she replied smiling, "But it isn't thrilling or anything special."

"Please tell anyway" Bofur requested.

"All right then. Some years I spent in Rivendell, afterwards I travelled across Eriador" the first part of her childhood, which she spent with her folk, she didn't mention - it would have evoked uncomfortable questions.

"Why did you live in Rivendell, you aren't an Elf?" at this, she remained silent and didn't felt like talking about it, neither remembering. Still, she tried to explain herself.

"Er well I… it actually is…" she stuttered and tried to calm down. Ori came to her rescue by saying it wasn't important and she didn't have to talk about it if she didn't want to. Gratefully she smiled at him, then yawned. The previous nights she almost couldn't sleep at all, so she wished everyone a good night and settled down next to Fíli and Kíli, with her coat shaped into a pillow. Even though she was used to sleep outside in the wild, sleep wouldn't come. Initially, she listened to the talks of the Dwarves which were still sitting by the fire. But one by one, they went to sleep as well. From then on it was almost impossible to fall asleep because all of them were snoring noisily. There was no point in covering her ears. Soon she sat up again and watched Bombur who was sucking and exhaling moth with every breath he took. After a while Bilbo got up, sneaked to the ponies and did something of which she couldn't figure out what he was doing because he made all efforts to keep it secret. When he wanted to go back to his bedroll, a cry pierced the air. A cry Lhindril just knew far too well.

"What was that?" Bilbo interrogated confusedly.

"Orcs" she answered simultaneously with someone behind her. When she turned around she saw it was Kíli. The brothers couldn't help but jesting about Orc attacks in the night, scaring poor Bilbo with it. They obviously didn't take the topic very serious so that she wanted to rebuke them but Thorin pre-empted her. He didn't seem to be keen on Orcs either which he also let Fíli and Kíli know, by snarling at them. Sheepishly she looked away, he was right, indeed, but he could have been friendlier. She just wanted to do something to cheer the lads up but once again she was interrupted. This time by Balin who told them the story about how Thorin's hatred for Orcs came to be in the battle of Moria. An Orc had killed his grandfather and probably also his father, only because he swore himself to wipe out the line of Durin, of which Thorin was a member. Somehow the name Durin reminded her of something but she couldn't say of what, nonetheless she was sure to have heard it before.

"But why would anyone want to wipe out the line of Durin?" Lhindril wanted to know once Balin finished his tale. He glanced at her with a sad look in his eyes.

"I do not know. No one does. Maybe an old prophecy. "

"And the pale Orc? What happened to him?" Bilbo inquired, who had sat down in the meantime. Thorin eventually turned towards them and said that he believed Azog to be dead. When she looked away she noticed Gandalf sitting offside. His facial expression worried her.

For the rest of the night she couldn't sleep, so she proposed to take a watch until they would continue our journey, as she had done in the nights before. Even before the sun rose, they had packed their stuff together and rode on. How long it would take them to reach the mountain? She didn't dare asking herself what would await them on our way but feared it would be much.

-oOo-

The following days passed off uneventful, despite the rain that once poured down for hours. At one point Dori seemed to be fed up and demanded better weather from Gandalf. However, he couldn't change it and told them about the five wizards of Middle Earth instead. Somehow she found it quite amusing that he forgot the name of the blue wizards - it let him appear more ordinary because he didn't know everything. Another couple of days later, in the late afternoon they found a resting place near a decomposed cottage. The wizard assumed that once a farming family had lived in there and wanted to move on. Irresolutely she stood around while Thorin was arguing with Gandalf but she didn't pay any attention to their discussion. In the end Gandalf had enough and stormed off, pushing Lhindril aside.

"Everything Alright? Gandalf, where are you going?" Bilbo asked.

"To seek the company of the only one around here who's got any sense"

"And who's that?"

"Myself, Mr Baggins." Gandalf grumbled "I've had enough of Dwarves for one day." Unfortunately, she had no idea what to do and felt embarrassed for the argument. Maybe she could find an occupation and wouldn't be standing in everyone's way. Suddenly Thorin appeared behind her.

"Make yourself useful and help Bombur with the cooking. You can cook, can't you?" even though she was annoyed by his harsh tone she nodded and joined the Dwarves around the fire. Maybe she wasn't the best cook, at the inn she was more of a waitress and chambermaid, but she would be able to make a meal. When it was dark, the meal was prepared and the Dwarves came to the fire hungrily. To be honest, it didn't look very appetizing, nonetheless it tasted delicious. Buried in thought Bilbo stepped up to them.

"He's been a long time" he commented.

"Who?" Bofur, who was ladled the stew in bowls, asked.

"Gandalf."

"He's a wizard. He does as he chooses." The Dwarf answered ere he handed them two bowls. "Do us a favour, take this to the lads" only about a second or two later Lhindril realized who he meant. Fíli and Kíli which were ordered to take care of the ponies. Carefully to not spill any of the hot broth they headed towards the brothers. Already when she saw them standing stone still she guessed something didn't went according to plan. Her suspicion was confirmed when they didn't react as Bilbo and the woman held out their food to them.

"Is something wrong?" she inquired warily.

"We were supposed to take care of the ponies"

"Only we've encountered a slight problem"

"We had sixteen"

"Now there's fourteen" they told us. Just as she wanted to say something, Kíli started to move and walked thought the crowd of the remaining ponies. Instantly Bilbo pulled her sleeve and followed them.

"Daisy and Bungo are missing" the brown-haired Dwarf stated.

"What should we do now?"

"That's not good. And this is not good at all. Should we tell Thorin?" Bilbo proposed as he saw the fallen over trees. Fíli put him off, saying that Thorin had other problems.

"As our official burglars we thought you might like to look into it"

"As a matter of fact, no" she explained "We are burglars, we don't search ponies and whether we would find them is another question" meanwhile Bilbo speculated what happened to the trees.

"And what if you had to steal the ponies back?" Fíli wanted to know, even before she could ask how he came up with that, he pulled her forwards. "There's a light" the broth almost slopped out of the bowl but thanks to a swift counter movement the most of it remained inside. Behind a fallen over trunk he stopped and waited for the others. In front of them was indeed a light and someone was there too. Kíli commented it were trolls. Once again the Dwarves started to run and jerked to halt under the cover of trees and stones. Suddenly a giant troll stepped past them, carrying two ponies under his arms.

"There you've got your ponies. Get them" she hissed towards the boys, it was their fault after all the trolls had the ponies. What they were going to do with them was evident.

"He's got Myrtle and Minty", Bilbo revolted and Lhindril realized they now had four ponies missing. Annoyed she turned to Kíli.

"What have you been doing? You ought to have taken care of the ponies. Do you call that taking care?" at the same time Bilbo urged them to do something.

"Yes, you should" Kíli decided and pushed the poor Hobbit forwards, after he took his bowl with food. Briefly he explained how to outwit the trolls.

"One second" she growled "We're to get the ponies back?" the Dwarf just shrugged. "I mean you're the ones to blame for this mess" also Bilbo stopped and seemed confused.

"Go ahead, you'll do fine" Fíli encouraged him but she squeezed her eyes shut as he talked to her. "Won't you go?"

"If you won't- no" the brothers shared a glance.

"Alright, stay here and Bilbo, if you run into trouble, hoot twice barn owl, once like a brown owl. Lhindril's gonna stay here as backup" as soon as he finished, he grabbed the bowl she was holding and hurried off with his brother. It took quite some composure not to roll her eyes. A moment she considered going back to the Dwarves and get help, best taking Bilbo with her. She didn't like the thought of him being all alone with the trolls and was sure it would be her fault if something happened to him. So, she decided to call him back when she realized he wasn't there anymore. Great, what now? Certainly, she didn't want to stay here while Bilbo might be risking his life.

After a while of thinking about the possibilities and dangers she decided to help Bilbo, at least she had a weapon, he - as far as she knew - didn't.