Cloaked in Green

Chp 4: Ring of Barahir

It was a recently uneventful dusk and L.D. was laid there on her bedroll until nightfall, watching as Bombur used the last of the rabbit meat for supper. Everyone finishing or starting their nightly chores, close to sundown, she watched silently as Thorin sent Fili and Kili out to check on the ponies and her horse.

Not quite feeling the same type of shame she did the other night watching over Fili & Kili, L.D. had kept an eye out on Thorin throughout the rest of the evening. He seemed very stressed that Gandalf hadn’t returned yet. It was his response to Gandalf suggestion that was strange to her. Clearly, the animosity between elves and dwarves is stronger on their side of the Misty Mountains… "Elrond has always talked of the ‘tension’ with a slight eyeroll and scoff, however. Thorin and the others seemed to take it more…personal, and it was concerning to think about what they might think of her and her relations to elves, as a result.

“He’s been a long time.” Bilbo stated as he walked over to Bofur, who was serving the stew.

“Who?” questioned Bofur as he handed a bowl over to Dwalin.

“Gandalf.” As there wasn’t anyone else that he could mean.

“He’s a wizard. He does as he chooses - Stop it! you had plenty.” Slapping Bombur’s hand as he reached for one of the bowls that was resting in his arm.

“Here, Bilbo, do us a favor and take these to the lads.”

Nodding Bilbo took the bowls out of Bofur’s hands and turned to head where Fili and Kili were supposed to be tending to the horses. “Aye! This isn’t a bad stew Bombur” Gloin said through mouthfuls “I’ve had plenty worse.”

“Yeah” Nori sitting next to him piped up “Dori coulda cooked it!”

She had to roll over on her roll to hide her silent laughter and shoulder shake. Through everyone else’s laughter, she was able to make out Dori’s faint but irritated.

“Hilarious.”

Again, she found her eyes drifting towards Thorin’s as he left out another deep breath. He was perched now on log, just on the edge of camp, sharpening his sword. The flame of the fire, putting that same hue of golden light she saw on Fili three nights before. His head turned towards her, grunting as he jerked his head in the direction of the horses.

“L.D, can you go check to see if the hobbit got lost.”

Ignoring the shock that went through her as he said the nickname Gandalf and the others assigned. She realized that Bilbo had been away for a while and with nothing better to do. She nodded and made her way towards the opening, where she last saw him disappear into. She was met with fallen trees and thrown brush, and her heart jumped into her throat.

“No no no.” she muttered as she moved father in, drawing her sword out silently. Fili and Kili crouched down in some behind one of the fallen logs, and she quickened her pace, so she was standing behind them. Looking toward the direction they were, she was met with a horrid sight.

Three large mountain trolls were gathered around a fire, with Dwalin’s and Bifur’s ponies tied up behind them. She noticed a small shadow, confused before she realized it was Bilbo nervously sneaking up behind them and trying to untie the rope and was wrapped around a post.

She didn’t notice that she hadn’t made my presence known to the two dwarfs till Fili turned around and let out a small gasp. Looking down at him, she watched as he quickly relaxed when he saw who it was .

Kili grinned. “Bilbo’s going to get our ponies back.” She just had to shake her head at them. How on earth did they expect a Hobbit? A Halfing? To fight three full-grown trolls. She moved farther down the tree, jumping up onto one of the big oak trees that stretched across the troll’s camp site.