From Other Worlds

The Fire

Rayna felt herself being lifted off the ground and at first panicked.

"I've got you. Find your  breath." Fili held her close as they ran. Rayna focused on her lungs working properly. Once out in the fresh air of the mountain she patted his chest so he could set her down and she ran down the mountain with  the rest of the dwarves until they found a spot to rest,  Gandalf counting them all.

"We're missing Bilbo. Where is our hobbit?" he yelled.

Rayna sat down so she  could catch her breath from running this time. Deciding it was best to let everything take it's  course. She still raised an eyebrow to Fili and Kili as they looked down  and around themselves for a hobbit that was nearly their height.

"I thought he was with Dori!"

"Don't blame me!"

"I'll tell you where he  is. Master Baggins has thought of nothing but his soft bed and home  since he left. He saw his chance and he took it. He will be long gone, and he left his friend behind to handle the goblins."

"Oh cut the shit  Thorin." Rayna said standing up, "Bilbo wouldn't abandon his friends. That's not like him. I would know better than you would. All you've been  doing is making him feel lesser than. And for what? You have a couple hundred years experience on him but that doesn't make him any less of a being or burglar or what have you. Did you even stop for a moment and consider that he may be dead?"

"Well, he isn't." Bilbo appeared before them all. Rayna grabbed him tight for a hug.

"Please don't do that again." she urged.

"I'll try not to." He sighed pushing himself out of the hug.

"Bilbo! We had almost given you up!" there was a look of genuine relief on Kili.

"How on earth did you get passed the goblins?" Fili asked.

"How indeed." Dwalin still held his arms crossed over him.

"What does it matter? He's back!" Gandalf tried to steer the conversation.

"It matters. I want to know why."

"Look I know you doubt me. And you're right I miss my books, and my arm chair.  See that's  home. And that is why I came back. Because you don't have one. A home.  It was stolen from you, but I will help you take it back if I can."  Bilbo paused, looking over to Rayna, "And I owe it to a dear friend to help her as much as I can find her way home too."

Rayna felt her eyes well with tears, "Oh Bilbo." her lip quivered as she walked to him for another hug.

It dawned on some of the  dwarves for the first time how lonely Rayna must have been for so long.  Fili was the first to step towards them, reaching a hand out he gently placed it on Raynas shoulder.

"It's a promise that we will get you home too." he held a hand over his heart.

"Thank you." Rayna looked over Filli, and to Kili as he stepped forward nodding. A gesture he was making the same promise. Even if his eyes were filled with the sadness at the thought of Rayna leaving.

Thorin had even begun to feel a shame in his heart for how he had been treating the only members of this company who weren't dwarves. He knew Balin was right when he said they had been good for the company, and good for the brothers. But the sentiment of truly seeing that in the moment was cut short by the howls of wargs.

"Out of the frying pan." Thorin started.

"And into the fire. RUN!" Gandalf ordered the company.

As fast as they could sprint they took off, away from the wargs that were closing in.