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The company had now been traveling for a few days, a pack of orcs hot on their trail. Currently, they had sent Bilbo out to see how far the pack was from them, Eitriel had d offered to go with him in case anything were to go wrong but Bilbo declined. The group walked at a rather slow pace as they waited for Bilbo to catch up. Eithriel hadn't said much, and even then that didn't stop the annoying look coming from Thorin who did not want her on this journey, however, the other dwarves didn't seem to mind it. It didn't take very long for Bilbo to come running back to the group, "how close is the pack?" Thorin asked, turning to look at a rather panicky Bilbo. "Too close, a couple of leagues not more, and that's not the worst of it." the Hobbit replied, worry in his tone.
"Have the wargs picked up our scent?" Eithriel asked, taking the question right from Thorin's mouth, which he didn't seem all too thrilled about. "Not yet, but they will do. We have another problem." Bilbo said. "Did they see you?" Questioned Gandalf, a slight look of concern on his face. Bilbo sighed and looked at the Wizard, "no, that's not it." he replied. "See? What did I tell you, quiet as a mouse." Gandalf said to the group, proudly. "Excellent burglar material," he added, the group all agreeing in unison. Bilbo, however, looked annoyed and the same look of panic that he had arrived with had not yet left his face. "Will you listen?" Bilbo asked the group, quietly. "Will you just...listen?" he asked again, this time louder causing everyone to stop talking. "I'm trying to tell you, there is something else out there," he said, finally telling the group what he needed to.
The group looked amongst one another, a look of both confusion and worry on their faces as they pondered what other thing could be out there. "What form did it take?" inquired Gandalf, looking at Bilbo. "Like a bear?" he added, rather gravely. Eithriel, who had never seen a bear could only imagine what it looked like, was it scary? She had never realized how isolated she was until she had gone far from the safety of Rivendell, it was both exciting and alarming. "Ye...yes, but bigger, much bigger," Bilbo replied, his eyes wide wondering how Gandalf might have known. "You knew about this beast?" Julian asked in disbelief, and Eithriel didn't blame him. How could something such as this not be mentioned? The look on Gandalf's face answered that question as the group broke out into a slight panic.
"I say we double back." Bilbo said, "and be run down by orcs?" replied Thorin, not thrilled about Bilbo's idea. Eithriel noticed Gandalf looking off into the distance, surely he had to be coming up with some kind of idea, an answer as to where they could go to seek shelter or to hide until it was safe to once again continue their journey. The Grey Wizard then spoke, "There is a house, it's not far from here, where we might take refuge." Gandalf announced. "Whose house?" Eithriel asked, looking at Gandalf curiously. "Are they friend or foe?" Thorin added to the elf's inquiry. "Neither," Gandalf began, "he will help us...or he will kill us." the bearded man said to the group. "Well, that's comforting," Julian replied sarcastically, earning a soft hit on the arm from Eithriel. "What choice do we have?" Thorin asked, looking at Gandalf. Just then, a frightening roar could be heard in the near distance, "none." the Wizard replied.
