Hey all! Chapter 3 all done and now up! I'm really enjoying writing these chapters. I hope you are enjoying reading them.

Chapter 3

Waking up the next morning, I feel a comforting weight on my side. Bringing my eyes into focus, I look and see Thorin's arm wrapped around me. I smile as I then feel his breath on the back of my neck as he lightly snores. In front of me, Fili also sleeps peacefully, holding his brother.

I carefully shift, trying to get out from under Thorin's arm, holding back a giggle as I feel his arm move around me more and hold me tighter. I finally manage to get out from under him and sit up. Turning to look at him, I can't help but smile as I watch him sleep peacefully. Moving some hair from his face, I lean down and place a gentle kiss on his forehead, causing him to stir and turn over. I just smile as I leave him to continue sleeping, having the feeling he needs it.

Standing, I look around and see that I'm the only one awake. Noticing it is still dark, I look out of the window and see that it's not yet dawn. Going into my pack, I take out coin pouch, before heading for the front door, while borrowing one of Bilbo's baskets. I remember some of the dwarves talking about chores they would need to do this morning. One of them being to buy ponies for everyone. So I leave to get that done. And maybe I can stop by the market on my way back.

After a successful trip, I am currently in Bilbo's home and cooking some breakfast of sausage, bacon and eggs alone with some freshly baked bread. Hearing the familiar heavy footsteps, I smile as I turn and see Thorin walking towards me.

"Good morning." I greet.

"Good morning." he replies as he kisses my shoulder while wrapping an arm around me. "You are up early."

I nod as I turn back to the food. "I thought I would get a head start for us this morning. I got all the ponies you need and I bought some provisions for us."

He blinked at me in surprise. "You did?"

"Mhm. The farmer did not like being woken up at an ungodly hour, but he was a nice enough fellow. I gave him a little extra for his trouble."

He nods. "Thank you. I will make sure you are compensated for it."

I just smile as I begin plating. "Not to worry, Thorin. I was happy to do so. Could you go wake everyone, please?"

He looks at me for a moment before nodding and leaving to do ask asked, after giving me a kiss. I smile as I set the plates on the table and cut the bread into slices as the dwarves start trickling in and taking a seat.

"It smells good in here, my dear." Gandalf says as he walks in.

I smile at the wizard, giggling as Fili and Kili each kiss my cheeks. "Thank you, Gandalf. It's nothing special. Just a simple breakfast."

"Nonsense, lassie. It is the thought that counts. And it was thoughtful of you to think of us. Thank you." Balin says with a smile.

I am greeted by a round of "thank yous" from the dwarves, although there are a couple of non-committal grunts from the less trustful dwarves.

I just smile and bow my head to them before making my way back to the lounge.

"You are not joining us?" Thorin asks.

"No, I have already eaten, but thank you. I will go and prepare our provisions." I smile at him before leaving the dining area.

Sitting on the floor in the lounge, I begin humming as I sort out everything I bought that morning. I pause for a moment as I hear the dwarves talking about me, and not all are positive. I try not to let it get to me. As I said to Thorin the night before, there is a great tension between the elves and dwarves, made worse by the actions of my father. However, I hope that by the end of this quest, I may be able to sway their thoughts and they can trust me. I do have to smile as I hear Thorin, Balin, Dwalin and the boys stand up for me against them.

Once I have finished sorting through provisions, I place each pouch onto everyone's packs for them to store, as well as tidying up their blankets and putting them neatly to one side for them to collect. Going to my pack, I pack everything away. So deep in my thoughts, I don't notice Thorin walking over until his feet appear in my peripheral vision and jump, making Thorin chuckle as he kneels down.

"Second time in two days. Normally I don't get one."

I give him a small smile as I fall back onto my heels. "I just have a lot on my mind. That is all."

He reaches out and take my hands. "Are you alright? I know you must have heard what was said."

I shake my head as I give his hands a reassuring squeeze. "Do not worry about me, Thorin. As I said last night, I know the tension. I know it is going to take some time to earn their trust. I will do all I can to do that and make things easier for them and for you. I would hate for that tension to grow within the company."

He lets go of one of my hands and raises it to gently stroke my cheek. "You are just how I remember. Always thinking of others before yourself. You are something special, ghivashel."

I smile at him. "I could say the same thing about you, melhekhel. You are embarking on this quest to take back your home from a dragon, to give your people what they deserve, with only sixteen of us. Even when others would not dare to do it. That is very admirable of you. And, if it is at all possible, it makes me love you even more."

He leans forward and kisses me. "It will be a home for you, also, Caladwen. For both of us. To live the life we had often talked about. Do you remember? How we talked about marriage, loving each other. . .raise our children together. It's a life we will be able to have once we have completed our task."

I'm smiling at him as I hold my tears, my heart full to bursting with love and joy over what he said.

"It is something I greatly look forward to, Thorin."

He smiles and affectionately presses his forehead against mine before we prepare to leave as the others join us. As everything is cleared away and we're ready to leave, I look around and notice we are one person short.

"Is the hobbit not joining us?"

"I'm afraid not, lass." Balin says with a sigh. "I believe we may have scared him off."

"Probably for the best," Dwalin says as he walks past. "The wild is no place for gentlefolk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves."

"Do you not need a burglar?" I ask.

"We will make do without him. We will find a way." Thorin says before ordering everyone out.

I stop Balin before he leaves, making him turn to me in confusion.

"Do you still have his contract?"

He nods as he takes it out and hands it to me when I hold my hand out. I place it on the table, weighing it down with the provisions I had set aside from him. Turning to Balin, I see him grinning at me.

"How slow do you think we can make Thorin set our pace?"

He chuckles as he pats my back. "I'm sure we can figure something out there, my dear."

I just grin as I do a quick run through once more to make sure we have everything before leaving and shutting the door behind me. I lead the way down to the farm where the farmer allowed me to leave the ponies and the dwarves pick out a pony. I bring out a brown horse and walk over to Gandalf.

"I did not know if you had a horse, but I got this fellow for you."

He smiles at me as he takes the reins. "Thank you, Caladwen. A mighty fine specimen you have chosen, my dear."

I smile and turn to check on everyone before stopping as Gloin calls my name as he walks forward.

"Yes, Master Gloin?"

He holds out a coin purse. "For the ponies."

"That is nice of you to offer, but it really was no trouble."

He smiles. "Thorin insists, My Lady. He had put gold aside to use for this quest. This is just what is owed."

I glance over at Thorin, and seeing him looking over at us, I just smile and chuckle before taking the pouch from him.

"Thank you, Master Gloin. But please, I am just Caladwen to you all."

He grins. "Then it is just Gloin to you, My Lady."

I laugh. "Very well, Master Gloin."

I pat his shoulder with a wink before making my way to Thorin, holding up the pouch in question.

"Did I not say this wasn't necessary."

He just smiles. "It is just payment we would have given to the farmer ourselves."

Still smiling, I shake my head as I put the pouch away.

"Don't you have a horse, Cal?" Kili asks.

I smile at the nickname, before I give a sharp whistle, which makes a few of the dwarves jump. Vanya soon appears over the hill, the sun shining on her black coat as she gallops towards us. Jumping over the fence, she slows to a trot as she approaches me. I grin at Kili as I reach up and pat Vanya's snout.

"Does that answer your question?"

He grins as he turns back to his pony. I kiss Vanya's snout before checking her over, making sure her hooves are okay. I glance over to see Thorin patting Vanya's neck.

"She's a magnificent horse. Definitely different from Melda."

I smile as I remember my golden coloured horse, the horse I had during my first visit to Erebor.

"She is. She's cheekier than Melda, aren't you girl?"

In reply, she whips me in the face with her tail, causing Thorin to chuckle.

"I see that. How old is she?"

"Five. I hand raised her since birth. Her mother passed not long after she was born."

He nods before grinning as he watches me tie my pack to her saddle. "That will explain the cheekiness."

I chuckle as I hop up onto her saddle. "I have heard that before. You are probably right."

He chuckles again as he walks over to his pony, brown with black mane and tail, before mounting it. Once everyone is ready, we all move out.

Riding besides Thorin at the front, I watch as the scenery changes as we leave the Shire behind. No longer able to see the hobbit homes or the fields and now riding through a wooded area, just on the edge of a forest. Gandalf is riding in front of Thorin and I and I have to smile, it seems as though Gandalf is setting a nice slow pace, hoping for Bilbo to catch up with us.

As I'm talking with Thorin, I hear the dwarves behind us beginning to take bets on whether the hobbit will join us or not. Only a few people believe he will come. Those being, Oin, Bofur and Kili. Gandalf joins in on the bet, obviously believing he will show.

"What about you, Caladwen?" Fili asks.

I smile. "I believe he will definitely come."

"Enough to take a bet on it?" Bofur asks.

I look back to the joyful dwarf. "Who is the highest on him not coming?"

He looks down at a list he has. "That would be. . .Dwalin with fifty gold."

I raise an eyebrow at that as I turn my gaze to the gruff dwarf. "My, my, Dwalin. You believe so little in him?"

He gives a shrug. "Like I said. The wild is not for gentle folk."

I look at him a little longer before I grin at Bofur. "I will take that bet."

He and some others laugh while Dwalin grins at me. "Fine by me. It'll be sweeter when I take your money."

I just grin back as I turn myself around to face forward. Thorin looks up at me.

"You shouldn't waste your gold, Caladwen. Dwalin is right."

"I may have only had a few seconds with the hobbit, so I could not definitely say, but I do see it in him. The thirst for adventure, to see the world. I think, by the end, he may surprise you."

Thorin just continues to look at me for a moment before turning to look ahead. Not long after this, I suddenly have a smile on my face.

"Oh, Gandalf, we may want to stop."

He stops his horse to look at me, as does Thorin.

"You hear something?" Thorin asks in alarm, his hand going to the sword at his waist.

I just grin as everyone suddenly hears it. The small voice calling out for us to wait. Turning Vanya around, I look back to see the little hobbit running towards us, the contract billowing behind him. The dwarves all stop their ponies to look back at him. Looking at Thorin, I see him watching Bilbo, a look of quiet disbelief and surprise on his face.

"I signed it!" Bilbo exclaims happily as he hands the contract to Balin.

Balin takes the contract and inspects it with a pocket-glass for a few moments before smiling down at him.

"Everything appears to be in order. Welcome, Master Baggins, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield."

I smile as the dwarves cheer but then frown as Thorin doesn't look too impressed.

"Give him a pony." Thorin barks out before turning his pony to move on.

I turn Vanya around to continue walking with him. Gandalf moving his horse aside, no doubt to ride with Bilbo, though I do hear Bilbo protesting at being on a pony.

"No, no, no, no, that-that won't be necessary, thank you, but I-I'm sure I can keep up on foot. I- I-I've done my fair share of walking holidays, you know. I even got as far as Frogmorton once-WAGH!"

Hearing his cry, I whip around, only to grin as he is being carried by Fili and Kili, who unceremoniously drop him onto one of the pack ponies. I shake my head as I see how stiff Bilbo is. He is going to be so sore later.

As we continue riding, I hear Oin shout up from the back. "Come on, Nori! Pay up!"

Hearing a coin purse being tossed, I suddenly turn. "You too, Dwalin!"

I'm grinning as I see and hear Dwalin grumbling away as he digs around for some gold before tossing a pouch to me. I catch it and toss it up and down a couple of times before putting it away.

"Wonderful doing business with you."

I have to giggle as I hear him continue to grumble away to himself.

"It seems as though you were right." Thorin says without looking at me.

I just grin. "Am I hearing correctly? The mighty Thorin Oakenshield admitting he is wrong?"

"Now, I never said that. I merely you are right." he defended.

"Which is basically the same thing."

He pauses for a moment, clearing not able to fight me on it. He sighs. "Am I going to wonder whether it was a good idea to invite you?"

I laugh. "Oh yes, probably a hundred times. But, you love me for it."

He smiles as he takes my hand to kiss it. "That I do, amralime."

I give him a loving smile as I let him continue to hold my hand. That's when I hear a loud sneeze coming from Bilbo.

"Ohh. All this horse hair, I'm having a reaction." Silence for a moment. "No, no, wait, wait, stop! Stop! We have to turn around."

The entire company comes to a halt, and the dwarves start objecting and asking what the problem is. I just watch Bilbo as he continues feeling about his person, trying to find something.

"What on earth is the matter?" Gandalf asks in exasperation.

"I forgot my handkerchief."

"Here!" Bofur calls up as he tears a strip of cloth from his clothing and tosses it to Bilbo. "Use this."

Bilbo catches the rag and looks at it in disgust. I also pull a disgusted face, hearing the wet slap as Bilbo caught it. Clearly that thing has not been washed in quite some time.

Thorin sighs. "Move on."

The dwarves laugh and begin to continue their journey.

"You'll have to manage without pocket-handkerchiefs and a good many other things, Bilbo Baggins, before we reach our journey's end. You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire, but home is now behind you; the world is ahead." Gandalf says to him.

Taking pity on the hobbit, I move Vanya around Thorin onto the other side and stop her, allowing the dwarves to ride past, so that I can continue on beside Bilbo.

"Give that to me, Bilbo." I say holding my hand out.

He looks to me in confusion before I point to the cloth. He hands it to me and I have to hold back my disgust as I feel it before looking ahead.

"Bofur, catch!"

He turns back as I toss the cloth, everyone laughing at the wet slap as the cloth hits Bofur in the face. He stutters and stammers as he rushes to get the cloth off before giving me a glare. I just grin at him for a moment before he laughs.

"Nice throw!"

I chuckle as I reach into a pouch on my belt before pulling out a silk handkerchief and pass it to Bilbo.

"Here, I never go anywhere unless I have at least two."

He smiles as he takes it, the obvious relief on his face is evident. "Thank you, Caladwen, was it not?"

I nod. "That is right." I continue to watch him as he uses the kerchief, mainly looking over his posture. "You have never ridden a pony before, have you?"

He gives a small scoff as he finishes with the kerchief and puts it in his pocket. "Is it that obvious?"

I smile. "You do look mighty uncomfortable. Here, try sitting like this."

I reach out and gently move him so that he is sitting right on the pony, showing him how to hold the reins.

"Remember, she will be able to sense and feel whatever you feel. If you are tense and appear afraid, she will know and won't respect you. See how she has calmed down now?"

Bilbo notices that the pony is no longer throwing her head back in frustration and whinnying at him.

He smiles. "Thank you."

"We have a long way to go, Bilbo. You both will have a lot of time to get to know one another."

He nods as we continue riding on. Glancing at Gandalf, I see him giving me a thankful smile. I just smile back as I tilt my head slightly before staring up a conversation with Bilbo, the both of us getting to know each other a little better.

Woop. Chapter 3 finished. Looks as though Caladwen is taking it upon herself to take Bilbo under her wing. Let's face it, Bilbo needs a friend among all the burly dwarves. I'm sure Cal would be a perfect ally.I hope you all enjoyed it, please leave your comments and reviews, I very much enjoy hearing from you all xx

Translations;

Ghivashel. - Treasure of treasures

Melhekhel - King of Kings

Amralime - My love.