The Story of Hazel Baggins

Chapter 5

"Mr. Gandalf? Can't you do something about this deluge?"

"It is raining, master dwarf. And it will continue to rain until the rain is done! If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another wizard."

The company had been traveling for almost a week now, and tempers were already starting to run short, especially Gandalf's. It seemed to Hazel he needed a break. And the rainy weather didn't help much.

"Are there other wizard's?" Hazel asked.

"There are five of us." Gandalf replied. "The greatest of our order is Saruman, The White. Then there are the two blue wizards. Do you know, I've quite forgotten their names."

"And the fifth?"

"That would be Radagast. The Brown."

"Is he a great wizard? Or is he...more like you?" Bilbo asked, earning a smack from his sister.

"I think he is a very fine wizard!" Gandalf replied, seemingly not offended by his comment. "In his own way. He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals to others. He keeps a watchful eye over the vast forestlands to the East, and a good thing too, for evil will always look to find a foothold in this world."

***

After another few hours of walking, the rain had stopped and they came upon the ruins of an old house.

"We'll camp here for the night." Thorin announced. "Fili, Kili, look after the ponies. Make sure you stay with them. Oin, Gloin, get the fire going."

"Aye." Oin replied.

"I think it would be wiser to move on." Gandalf said, studying the ruins of the house. "We could make for the hidden valley."

"But I've told you already, I will not go near that place." Thorin said angrily.

Hazel could smell a fight about to break out so she got up to help the brothers tend to the horse, to which they were both greatful.

Sure enough, after a few minutes Gandalf stormed away from the camp.

"Everything alright, Gandalf?" Hazel asked.

"Where are you going?" Her brother added.

"To seek the company of the only one around here who's got any sense!" The angry wizard replied.

"And who's that?"

"Myself, Mr. Baggins! I've had enough of dwarves for one day!"

***

The group sat huddled around a fire, eating the delicious stew Bombur had made.

"Will Gandalf be back soon?" Hazel asked, she wasn't scared, but Gandalf had been gone for quite a while and it made her uneasy.

"His a wizard! He does as he pleases." Bofur replied, handing her two more bowls of stew. "Here, do me a favor and take this to the lads."

Hazel made her way over to Fili and Kili who were watching the horses, or...supposed to be.

"What happened?" She asked, noticing their expressions.

"Um, we're supposed to be looking after the horses." Kili started.

"Only we've encountered a slight problem." Fili added.

"Which is?"

"We had sixteen."

"But now there's fourteen."

Hazel sighed as she handed them their bowls of stew. "And what were you doing instead of watching them?"