Fitting in ~

Race !

PART 2

FITTING IN.

Since the incident with the horse, the company had been warmer to you, happier to you. Ori tagged along beside you now on rides, asking a menagerie of colorful questions about your world: what your people had built, what creatures you shared in common with middle-earth, what was war like and such things. Kili and Fili both had begun to lessen up on their harsh practical jokes. Balin would march beside you, his comfortable presence and old wisdom something you actually delighted in. He was always there to answer your many questions about middle- earth and the cultures of the dwarves. It was during one of these simple conversations that yet another sort of test came to pass.

It was a crisp summer day, the sun shining joyfully down onto you and the others of the company as they rode on. You found yourself then, as you came over the rise, staring down upon a beautiful pine forest bordering a lake. The great pines were larger and older then you had ever seen back home, they seemed to tower above you like wise grandfathers. You had not been paying attention to the rest of your company- your eyes were only for the beauty of the landscape.

"It is a wonderful sight. " bilbo commented from his tiny pony. You looked down at the hobbit, seeing the same fascination you felt spreading across his own face. "This is something that not even my books could have prepared me for. "

"I know .... It's better to see it with your own eyes then to imagine it." You replied. The breeze whipped the air around you two in a swift current, spreading the scent of water and earth through the air. In a moment you had a wild idea. You turned to bilbo, your face stretched in the brightest grin the little hobbit had ever seen. In fact he had never truly seen you smile - nor had any of the company. There had been the lop sided smiles and the slight grins but this - this smile that beamed from your face and hit the little hobbit was one that put the sun to shame. Bilbo felt his flush as your bright eyes held his own. "Bilbo do you wanna race down the hill with me ?"

You couldn't stand it now - you wanted to release your energy- all the stress and pain and such in one long ride. Riding always helped you calm down at home- the motion of the animal beneath you like an extension of your own self. The very need for it Itched beneath your skin.

"Why- oh but of Course y/n!" Bilbo could hardly refuse you now. He was so flustered and such a nice gentleman that he was unable to truly put down an invitation of any sorts.

With Bilbos words you felt your face stretch wider.

"Alrighty then !" You called and, digging a heal into the side of your mare, you were off! The brown little mare charged down the sloping grass, passing through the company like water through air. The dwarves who had been in the front were suddenly surprised to hear the sound of pounding hooves upon th earth. Half of the company turned, drawing weapons to see what danger plagued them. When you passed them, with a tiny pony shadow after you, they blinked in surprise. Balin laughed at the sight and it only took Fili and Kili one second before they too were charging after you and bilbo. Thorin watched with stony face, but when he saw you turn and stare back, hair streaming and face so bright with joy, he couldn't help the small grin from cracking his stony expression.

You flew, body fully possessed by the joy of flight and the animals unconquerable speed. "Go girl go!" You leaned over your mares neck, whispering to her in eager pleas. One ear twitched back then went back forward, acknowledging your desperate pleas. You looked back and saw little Bilbo keeping up, his pony tearing up the earth. You were surprised to see the twins after you but you laughed, joy bubbling through you.

"Come to catch us now?!" You called back. "You will never best me and bilbo to the lake!"

"WE WILL SEE ABOUT THAT y/n!!" Fili called back, face bright with his own mirth. Kili echoed him, and soon the race began a new. It took you only a few seconds to reach the lake - you and bilbo having won by a nose - and now you were tired and hot, but happy. It felt good to be panting, to run upon your horse - to feel alive and REAL. You leant down and patted your horse fondly on the neck, eyeing little Bilbos gasping frame.

"You alright master burglar ?" You teased him. The hobbit looked up at you, his own grin on his face. All that shy hobbitness seemed to melt from him as he shook his head and laughed.

"Just out of breath..... Me and my pony both ..."

"NO FAIR !" Kili hollered beside you. He was smirking but still frowned grumpily at having lost the race. 'An amazing feat' you thought 'to look both grumpy and pleased at the same time.'

"If we knew there would be a race we would have won. Dwarves are always better at races then men. "

"That's true, that's true ." Fili chimed in, his lion grin wide upon his face.

"Hehehe oh sure - it was YOU that ran all this way and not your little ponies." You pointed out.

"Well- maybe the ponies did more work then we did. " Kili admitted, rubbing the back of his head.

"Don't wear out your mounts, we still have a long way to go before the day is up." Thorins voice coldly rumbled over you, like thunder and clouds to cover your warm sunny day. You felt your face flush as you turned to about in the saddle to stare at the grumpy King. To your surprise, the stormy Thorin looked like he was ... Fighting a smile ! You were stunned as the rest of the company came up to you, smiles of there own upon there faces.

"Well - at least we know that our lass can hold the saddle well!" Dwalin rumbled

"Of course she can brother!" Balins merry voice called. "She told us herself that she has had lesson in her world. It's good to see the art of horsemanship- and ponymanship- hasn't been forgotten by the younger generations." Balin dipped his head to the twins, you and Bilbo. The elder companions chuckled as you all flushed, ducking your heads in embarrassment. Thorin turned his pony back to the trail, signaling the small talk was over. As the company took to the road once more, you let your horse catch her breath again, letting the reins go slack so she could stretch as she followed the ponies.
Bilbo followed your example, and you couldn't help the giggles from escaping as his pony made a beeline for the grass. KIli and Fili were both chatting up a storm, always spinning in the saddle to flash smirks or throw jokes which you, in turn, threw back with the best of them.

"AH youth." You heard. Turning your head, you heard Gandalfs great stallion pulling beside you. "It is refreshing to see such joy that youth can bring. Sadly that young Joy is too soon quenched by the growth of age. " His eyes seemed clouded, far off and unseeing.

"Gandalf?" You asked. He shook his head, turning his now bright eyes to you with a grin.

"Yes, y/n?"

You blinked at him, wondering at his words but decided to drop it. "Is there any way ... That at the end of this journey as you promised, that you be able to find a way to send me home ?" He stared at you, the bright gleam only growing in his eyes.

"That, my dear y/n, will be determined by the choices you make upon this journey." He riddled to you. Well that's no answer. You puzzled over it, and when you looked back at the wizard- to demand a more detailed answer then a riddle - he was already away, walking beside Thorin.

"Wizards..." You huffed. "More trouble then they are worth ..." Grabbing your reins again, you caught up with the rest of the company, the sun warm and the breeze of summer sweet on your nose.