The Hobbit

Chapter Three

To say Evelyn was angry at being shaken awake would be an understatement. She was ready to kill. That thought faded when she saw it to only be Gandalf. Her dark blue eyes looked around in shock. It hadn't registered that she had fallen asleep on the bench outside of Master Baggins's cosy home.

She could hear Ember's amused chuckle and quickly shoved the dragon out of her mind. She could listen to her smart remarks later. It didn't take long to make sure that she had everything that would be needed. Her belongings could easily be placed in a pack. Within the hour, she mounted her horse (something Ember continued to be irritated with) and was following at the back of the company with the two dwarven princes by her side.

"So," the dark haired one began with a smile, "you are a princess?"

The title caused a rather unladylike snort to escape, much to the princes' amusement. "I am many things, Master Kili, but I can assure you a princess I am not."

"Not by blood, no," the blonde one added in to the conversation, "but you were adopted into a royal family which means, technically, you are. You will be queen one day, yes?"

"Master Fili," the woman said with a laugh and shook her head. "Whether I be adopted into the line or not, I would never have any claim to the throne. Where I am from, it is by Gûntera's blessing that a dwarf is crowed king or queen. Only a dwarf, might I add."

Evelyn looked up after finishing and noticed that the rest of the company had slowed down to listen.

"They are like you," Ember chuckled as she flew over them at a distance. To the ground she would only appear as a bird. "Sticking their noses where they don't belong."

Evelyn bit back a scoff but the scowl still took over her graceful feature. "You're not much better," she snapped. "I do recall you sticking your big head into a forest and getting stuck between the branches!"

A growl left Ember's snout and she snorted out a plume of smoke. "At least I don't go biting off more than I can chew. The amount of times Saphira and I had to get you and Eragon out of trouble..." She shook her great head.

It had gotten to where she could easily talk of her old companion and his dragon without growing somber. She had even begun to smile at times though she still wished for the two to be present with her.

"And we will forever be grateful," Evelyn said sincerely before ending the connection. She turned to see Kili looking at her with a raised eyebrows and a smirk.

"You were daydreaming it would seem," Kili laughed, his brother joining in. "What of?"

Evelyn smiled and shook her head. She couldn't very well tell them she was having a conversation with a dragon. "I was just thinking about how you two remind me of my old companion and I."

"If you were like them, lass, I dare say we might have to rethink taking you with us," Dwalin said gruffly, but when he glanced back she could see the teasing glint to his eyes.

A laugh escaped her pink lips and she gave an impish smile to the dwarf. "Master Dwalin, I have walked this earth for many years and can proudly say I have matured greatly since my childhood."

Ember snorted, a spark escaping from her snout. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, little one, but that can be debated."

Evelyn wouldn't have minded the smart remark if it wasn't for Gandalf letting out an amused chuckle from beside her. She looked up at the sky with a glare, her blue orbs immediately locking on to the small speck above them. "You projected that to Gandalf!" the woman accused fiercely.

"Perhaps."

"Why are you glaring up at the sky, Miss Evelyn?" a younger dwarf, Ori, asked and glanced at her worriedly.

"I smell rain," she grumbled and tightened her grip before riding towards the front, stopping behind Thorin. It wasn't untrue though, her enhanced senses allowed her to smell the rain in the distance. It wouldn't be a threat though, just an annoyance. "Perhaps you should land somewhere," she thought, her worry clear as Ember's mind linked with hers.

"I will be fine for now." Ember's appreciation was noticeable. "It is not for many leagues. Once it begins to come closer, I will." An amused chuckle rang through Evelyn's mind. "It would appear as though you made the right bet with the two trouble makers."

"Wait!" a shout rang out from behind them and everyone slowed their ponies to a stop. "Wait!"

Bilbo Baggins slowed his run and held up a long parchment. "I signed it," he stated, breathing heavily, and stopped to look at the group. He walked to Balin with a wide grin on his face.

Balin took the contract somewhat disbelievingly and took out his glasses to peer down at the signature. "Everything appears to be in order," he decided and folded up the contract. "Welcome, Master Baggins, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield."

Laughs and smiles were tossed around the company while Thorin just grunted. "Give him a pony," he ordered and turned his horse forward, completely ignoring the protests that began spewing out of Bilbo's mouth. "Miss Evelyn, ride beside me."

"Be cautious," Ember advised. "I know what you are thinking, but you must still be careful and on guard."

"I trust him," Evelyn insisted. "He is much like Brom, no?"

"All the more reason to be careful."

Evelyn urged her horse forward to where it was walking alongside Thorin's. "Did you need something?"

"Why is it you keep looking up here?" the dwarf asked bluntly and Evelyn started. She hadn't realized she had been staring, but Thorin did remind her of Brom.

The woman pursed her lips and frowned, doing her best to come up with a reasonable excuse. "I think perhaps we shouldn't stay on the main road for too long," she said quietly.

"Oh?" Thorin grunted, looking ahead.

"Obviously now is fine, but I think it would be wiser to exit it once we reach the end of the shire," she suggested. Despite having used it as an excuse, the words were no less true. She didn't feel right about being in the open.

It seemed as if that was what caught Thorin's attention and shifted his gaze to turn to her. "And why is that?"

Evelyn's cheeks burned in embarrassment. The tone he had used was somewhat annoyed, almost patronizing. "Please, forgive me, I'm afraid I'm not used to traveling with a group. I'm sure it is nothing."

She quickly turned her horse to trot alongside Bilbo's when he began ranting about a handkerchief. Her nose wrinkled in disgust at the wet strip of cloth thrown at Bilbo and she sighed. A pale hand reached into her bag and she pulled out a handkerchief of her own before holding it out. "Here you are, Master Baggins," she said kindly.

The small hobbit took the gift gratefully, stuttering out a thanks with pink cheeks before Evelyn retreated to the back of the group.

"Evelyn," Gandalf greeted when she sided up next to him. "Does Ember see anything troubling ahead?" he questioned lowly so as not to allow any eavesdroppers to overhear.

"Nothing but a small storm still leagues ahead," the brunette mumbled just as quietly. Her face was set in a frown and she ignored Ember's comforting words. "It should pass fairly quickly though, but I sense our companions will be mildly upset when it hits."

"Indeed they shall," was Gandalf's amused response.

The two said no more and Evelyn kept her head down as the company rode on. She knew it would be much like her travels at home and she was beginning to fear the memories it would awaken.