The Last One

Chapter 25

It was early morning when the sun just peaked over the rolling hills of the Shire, that the company set off for the journey. Many grumbles where heard throughout the dwarves, saying that coming here was a waste of time. Ruive rolled her eyes, she had an inkling that this would not be the last they saw of Bilbo Baggins. It appeared that some of the other dwarves shared her opinion, they began placing bets on whether or not the hobbit would show up.

"What about you lass? Do ya think the hobbit will show?" Nori asked raising his eyebrows.

Ruive hummed in thought, adjusting the straps on her horses saddle. She thought back to the books she had seen in Bilbo's library, the most worn looking were books on adventures and far off places. 

"I wager double..." 

The dwarves in on the bet gasped and their eyes widened. 

"...That he will come."

"That's be a steep price their lass, you really think he'll come. He made it blatantly obvious that he wanted no part in the quest." Bofur asked, very interested as to what Ruive was thinking.

Ruive chuckled softly, going back to tacking her horse. 

"You look master dwarf, but you do not observe." 

Ruive turned back to face the dwarf, amused at the confused look on his face. 

"You failed to notice the books on his shelves, you can tell a lot about a person by what they read." She smirked slightly before leading her horse away.

Kili had to laugh at Bofur's blank look, he decided to talk to Ruive for he too believed Bilbo would show. He walked up to her pulling his pony along with him. He watched as she whispered something in the cream and black stallion's ear. He couldn't quite make out what it was but he knew is wasn't common tongue.

"He is a beautiful horse." Kili said coming up beside Ruive. 

He watched as Ruive's lips twitched up in a small smile as she stroked the horse's neck curling her slender fingers in his black mane.

"His name is Alagos. He is far stronger and faster than even the Elvish horses." She replied, looking into Alagos' black eyes affectionately.

"Alagos," Kili tried. "Is it Elvish?" He asked noticing how the name rolled of his and her tongue.

"Yes, it means storm of winds." Ruive pronounced.

Kili was about to reply but the deep voice of his Uncle stopped the conversation.

"Move out!" Thorin called, already astride his black pony.

Kili climbed on to his pony's back with little struggle, though he gaped as he watched Ruive swing onto Alagos' back without the slightest sign of struggle. Kili quickly looked away hoping Ruive hadn't caught him staring, which she did but did not make it known. She only smirked and turned her head to Kili who was looking everywhere but her eyes, and said. 

"Shall we?"

Ruive hung at the back of the company, keeping an eye on the perimeter and the two princes in front of her. After a while the two slowed down so they were riding either side of her. On their ponies, that were level with her shoulders, although Alagos was a horse he was only two feet taller than the ponies. Despite his stature, Alagos was one of the fastest horse Ruive had even seen, except for Dragul of course. Ruive desperately missed him, she never returned to get him for she knew he would have died some time ago, she just wished she could have said goodbye to her best friend.

"Is there something I can help you with, lads?" Ruive asked still facing forward.

"Nothing." They said at the same time grinning.