⪼𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚⪻

The rain pours down on us in sheets. Layer after layer and mile after mile of woodlands and rain. I shiver feeling the cool rain soaking my clothes as the fabric sticks to my skin. Even my pony, Daisy, dosent seem to happy about the weather.

"Hey, Mr. Gandalf?!" Dori calls from behind to the grey wizard up front "Can you do something about this deluge?"

Gandalf calls back "It is raining master dwarf. If you wish to change the weather of the world you better find yourself another wizard."

"Are there any?" Bilbo asks.

"Any what?"

"Wizards."

Gandalf nods "There are five of us. The highest of our order is Sauroman, the white. Then there are the two blues...you know I've quite forgotten their names."

I cant help but to laugh to myself only to feel a pair of eyes on me. To my right Thorin rides along next to me, averting his gaze from me when I look back at him. He gallops his horse up all the way to the front.

I frown staring at his back as he doesn't even take a backward glance. I grip the reigns of the bridle and stretch the weight off my aching back.

"He's a ray of sunshine isn't he?" a voice asks.

I whip my head to the left catching the eyes of Fili. The young blonde dwarf smirks at his own joke. A smirk back "He certainly is. I especially love the way he smiles."
Fili laughs as his younger dark-haired brother, Kili, rides up to us on the other side.
"What's with all this laughter and why am I not in the center of it?"
Fili rolls his eyes "You're not as half as funny as you think you are little brother."
"You're right." he agrees " I am 10 times funnier than I or anyone else think!"
The three of us laugh as we ride on . Making small talk, and speaking of ourselves. it was refreshing to finally make friends amongst the company. Even if they were just two boys. Despite the fun we had passing time on the trail. I would catch myself looking ahead to Thorin, secretly wishing it was he and I laughing together to.

——

Once the rain had cleared, it made traveling much easier. Just before the sun was about to set, we came to an open field clearing in the middle of the wood. Thorin and Gandalf halted the company and we dismounted, power ponies.
"Let me get that for you lass." Bofur said with a smile as he took my saddle off my pony.
"Thank you." I say, with a smile " but please do not trouble yourself. I'm sure I can manage."
He grins setting the saddle on the ground "Aye, I'm sure you can manage, but a pretty lady like yourself deserves to at least have her saddle carried for her."
I giggle as my cheeks blush as the now bashful dwarf, takes leave to help the others.
As he steps away, I feel as if I'm being watched. I turned to catch Thorin's piercing gaze on me. His face almost looking angry, and perhaps even a little jealous. No it can't be jealousy. Not over Bofur's chivalry, and certainly not over anything to do with me. Nonetheless, he was looking to me. Now, noticing my own gaze back on him, he hurt his eyes and makes way to Gandalf, who stands under the shambles of an old farmhouse. I know he must dislike me, but I can't help to think that maybe he would be willing to learn to like me.
But he is a dwarf , and I know how stubborn they can be. Still not an impossible feat.

⪼𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧⪻

"A farmer and his family used to live here." Gandalf, mutters ominously, as I enter into the skeleton of a farmhouse.
Looking at the debris, it seems it was torn apart weeks ago. Still enough of a structure to hold the company for the night.
"I suggest we move on." Gandalf presses " we could make for the hidden Valley. We could get food, rest and advice."
My fist clinch, and I feel the slight burn of anger fill my ears  " I have told you already I will not go near that place."
"Why not? We have a map we cannot read. Lord Elrond could help us."
"You ask me to seek help and shelter from the very race of people that betrayed my grandfather? Who betrayed my father."
Gandalf narrows his eyes "You are neither of them. I did not give you that map and key so you could hold onto the past."
"I did not know they were yours to keep." I hiss through gritted teeth.
Glaring down at me, Gandalf straightens up with an agitated saw, and storms out of the old farmhouse. I watched him weave through the company angrily from the farmhouse door.
"Gandalf where are you going?" Bilbo asks as the wizard huffs away.
"To seek the company of the only one who has any sense around here." he grumbles.
"And who is that?"
"MYSELF, Mr. Baggins!" he shouts over his shoulder "I've had enough of dwarves for one day."
Looking from the wizard to Mary, I catch her eyes, looking worriedly after Gandalf then up to me. When her eyes look up at me, I'm taken back for a moment. It feels like a lifetime ago. I saw such a gaze look at me in almost the same manner. The eyes of the one I owe my life to. Those eyes I will never see again. When I look back intently at Marie, she seems to be almost pleading with me to go after the wizard or contemplating even going herself . Seeing the concern in her eyes puts a small heaviness of guilt on me, but I push it down breaking my gaze as I grumble  "Come on Bomber we're hungry." And Gandalf disappears from sight and night falls upon the company.