Aerlinniel POV

I feel someone shaking my shoulder.

"Aerlinniel, you have to get up. We are leaving." Gandalf tells me.

I stand up and stretch. I must've fallen asleep while the Dwarves were singing. I grab my weapons and head outside. I hear everyone's heart beats except Bilbo's.

I go over to Gandalf and ask, "So, I'm guessing Bilbo is still sleeping?"

"Yes, he is." Gandalf answers.

I hear the Dwarves making bets. It's whether or not Bilbo will come. I bet that he will come, Gandalf does the same. I believe in that Hobbit, I know he will come.

Bilbo POV

I slowly open my eyes, the sun is shining brightly and I hear birds. It's so peaceful. Wait....it's too peaceful. Did they all leave?

I get up and walk around, quietly. Looking for any sign of any of them.

"Hello?" I say. I don't hear or see anyone they must have left.

"Yes. Yes." I say, happy that they are gone.

Then I start thinking...and I see the contract on left on the table next to me.

Next thing I know I'm grabbing things, signing the contract, and running out my door. Am I really doing this?

I run as fast as I can through the Shire. Jumping over things as I go.

"Here. Mr. Bilbo, where are you off to?" Mr. Worrywort asks.

"Can't stop, I'm already late." I tell him.

"Late for what?"

"I'm going on an adventure!" I yell to him.

Aerlinniel POV

We were riding down a path on our horses. I was staying quiet, wondering if Bilbo was going to come. I hear the Dwarves saying how it was a waste of time coming to the Shire. I am glad I got to come to the Shire and meet Bilbo.

"Wait! Wait!" I hear someone yell. I give a smile.

It's Bilbo. We all stop our horses. I knew he was going to come.

"I signed it. Here." Bilbo says. He signed the contract.

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

"Give him a pony." Thorin says, he does not sound to happy.

"No, no, no. That won't be nessecary. Thank you. I'm sure I can keep up on foot. I've done my fair share of of walking holidays, touy know? Even got as far as Frogmorton once. Aah!" Bilbo yells.

A couple of the Dwarves probably put him on a pony. We continue on our way. And that's when the Dwarves give the money to the people who won the bet.

"What's that about?" Bilbo asks.

"Oh, they took wagers on whether or not you'd turn up. Most of them bet that you wouldn't." Gandalf tells him.

"And what did you think?" He asks.

I hear a sack of coins get thrown towards Gandalf. "Well. My dear fellow, I never doubted you for a second.

Then I hear a sack of coins get thrown my way. I catch it and tell Bilbo, "I never doubted your either.

I hear Bilbo sneeze. "It's horse hair. Having a reaction. No, wait, wait, stop. Stop! We have to turn around." Bilbo says frantically.

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

"I forgot my handkerchief." Bilbo says.

"Here. Use this." Bofur says and I hear fabric being ripped.

Some of the Dwarves laugh and Thorin says, "Move on."

"You'll have to manage with out 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 tells Bilbo.

~~~

After a long day of traveling, we finally get to rest for the night. Some of the Dwarves are asleep. Others, including Gandalf and I, are still awake.

I'm thinking about how things are going back at the Woodland-Realm. How is my sister and Faelwen doing? Is Legolas alright? I have no clue. But I trust King Thranduil is looking out for them.

I hear Bilbo's heartbeat all of the sudden quicken and I hear him get up. He walks over to where the horses and ponies are. I then hear screeching coming in the distance. Orcs.

"What was that?" Bilbo asks.

"Orcs." Kili says.

"Orcs?" Bilbo runs back over to where we are.

"Throat-cutters. There'll be doezens of them out there. The lone lands are crawling with them." Fili says.

"They strike in the wee small hours when everyone's asleep. Quick and quiet, no screams. Just lots of blood." Kili says and then him and his brother start laughing. I know that they are just trying to scare Bilbo.

"You think that's funny?" I hear Thorin ask. And I know why too. Gandalf told me what happened. "You think a night raid by Orcs is a joke?"

"We didn't mean anything by it." Kili says to Thorin.

"No, you didn't. You know nothing of the world." Thorin says to them and walks off.

"Don't mind him, laddie. Thorin has more cause than most to hate Orcs." Balin says and tells Bilbo what happened, After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient Dwarf kingdom of Moria. But our enemy had got there first. Moria had been taken by legions of Orcs led by the most vile of all there race: Azog the Defiler. The giant Gundabad Orc had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin. He began by beheading the king. Thrain, Thorin's father, was driven mad by grief. He went missing. Taken prisoner of killed we did not know. We were leaderless. Defeat and death were upon us. That is when I saw him. A young Dwarf prince facing down the pale Orc. He stood alone against this terrible foe. His armor rent weilding nothing but an oaken branch as a shield. Azog the Defiler learned that day that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken. Our forces rallied and drive the Orcs back. And our enemy had been defeated. But there was no feast nor song that night for our dead were beyond the count of grief. We few had survived. And I thought to myself then, there is one who I could follow. There is one I could call king."

"And the pale Orc? What happened to him?" Bilbo asks.

"He slunk back into the whole whence he came. That filth died of his wounds long ago." Thorin answers Bilbo.

No one talks for a while after that. I can hear everyone a heartbeat, but for some reason, Bilbo's is very faint. I go over to Gandalf.

"Where is Bilbo? His heartbeat is very faint." I whisper very quietly to him.

"He is sitting over by the ponies. If you go over there Aerlinniel, please do be careful." He tells me.

I slowly walk over to Bilbo and when I find him, I sit down by him. We sit there for a few moments. Until I decide to say something.

"I am so happy you came on this quest. I know this is scary for you. I hate to admit, but it is for me too. I want to promise you something though. I promise I will do my absolute best to keep you safe on this trip. And I will do all I can to make sure you get back home."

"Thank you." Bilbo says, "You've been so kind to me. Thorin doesn't seem to want me here."

"Do not worry, Bilbo. I am sure he will warm up to you." I tell him, giving him a gentle smile. "You really should get some sleep, we have a long day of traveling tomorrow."

"Alright, I will. Thank you again, Aerlinniel." He tells me as he gets up.

"You are so very welcome, Bilbo." I walk back over and I also get some sleep.

~~~~~~

I was going to make this chapter longer, but I decided to stop it there. I will update again tomorrow though! :D
IMPORTANT: Kepp on to the next update, it is an authors note, I am having a contest! So read it to find out about it! ^~^

Love you my elves from the realm of llamas,

~Ellethwen <3