(Bagginsheild) Let The Storm Rage On (PART TWO)

Chapter 35 (Third Person POV)

The next morning, the company awoke to Gandalf standing over them, looming over them,"Wake up, we have many places to save." He roared as every dwarf groaned, the Elvin woman standing up at inhuman speeds, and Bilbo almost falling over as he stood.

When every dwarf, elf, and hobbit alike finally gathered supplies, ready to head off into the great unknown, Thorin stopped in his tracks, a look of pure horror crossing his face as he turned and faced the company,"We turn back and go back to the mountain!" The whole company looked at him, dumbfounded by what he had said,

"But Thorin, we have to stop the dragon-"

"That dragon is not our problem,burglar, we are going back to the mountain. That mountain belonged to my ancestors, and I plan to stay there, not loose it to some heroic act of trying to save people."

"I don't care, if you want to join me in taking down this retched beast-"

A roar of pain ripped through the sky as all eyes looked north. A shape of creamy white spread it's wings, blocking out the sun as it went down in one triumphant roar. That's when the company went wild,"THE BEAST IS DEAD." And "THE WHOLE OF MIDDLE EARTH WILL REJOICE." But it was all silenced with a wave of the hand from Gandalf The Grey,"we move forward!"

"We move back to the mountain!"

"Fine! I will make a compromise, out of the fact I wish not to fight."

The wizard took a chug from his pipe, it seemingly appeared out of no where, and exhaled through his nose. Silence consumed the clearing as he opened his mouth to speak,"those wanting to join Thorin, step with him now and go to the mountain, those who wish to stay upon the ground, and fight the oncoming war, we will stayed in the charred remains of the lake city. Make your choice now."

All of the company exchanged looks as two men stood before them. But, the most conflicted was Bilbo Baggins himself, wondering to go with his babies father or with his best friend who seemingly had the better plan. The first to make her choice was Theata, the Elvin woman, she walked over to Gandalf turning and facing him,"I will stand by you and fight." She said loud and proud, standing by his side.

The wizards old wise eyes scanned the crowd, wondering who was to join who. Meanwhile, Thorin was steaming with anger, would the whole company join this wizard over their King?! Impossible.

The next 13 to step forward were the dwarfs, standing next to Thorin. They all turned and said all at once,"we will stand by you King Under The Mountain, we will go with you to the mountain." Thorin beamed at them then looked back to the hobbit, the only one who didn't make his choice.

Both men, wizard and hobbit alike, stared Bilbo down in attempts to tempt him to their team. It was a hard choice for the hobbit, his friend or his lover. Bilbo Baggins balanced these two choices in his head before walking over to Thorin, grabbing his hand and standing by his side,"I will go with you and fight with you, or whatever choice you make for this rag-tag group." The hobbit and dwarf looked at each other lovingly before turning to the wizard,

"This is where we part."

"It seems so, goodbye to all, take care of my burglar."

"Will do, be careful yourself."

"Do not concern yourself with my will being, I will be alright."

And with the final goodbyes exchanged, the two groups split apart, back into the forest from which they came.