Concerning the Hobbits

Bofur Becomes a Love Guru and the Company is being hunted!

  P.O.V Gandalf

"Where did you go to, if I may ask?" Thorin asked me.
"To look ahead." I smiled at the dwarf.
"What brought you back?" Thorin asked confused. I looked at my daughter; I had begun to notice the triangle that had been forming between Kili, Firiel and Bilbo. I smiled as I observed Firiel glancing every so often at the hobbit, I chuckled when Bilbo did the same, the other looking away quickly with red rosy cheeks when they thought they had been caught.

"Looking behind," I stated simply, "Nasty business. Still, they are all in one piece."
"No thanks to your burglar, or your daughter." Thorin frowned, "I did not ask for useless hobbits on my quest, Gandalf."
"And I wasn't aware you had any, Master dwarf. He had the nous to play for time. None of the rest of you thought of that." I smiled fondly at the Halfling.

"And what of your daughter?" Thorin sneered.
"She still has a role to play, but I'd say she's doing fairly well, so far. Do not be so quick to judge, Thorin son of Thrain. Not many would deem it wise." Thorin showed no emotion or response to what I had just said, just a quick nod.
"They must have come down from the Ettenmoors." I said gesturing to the stone trolls.
"Since when do mountain trolls venture this far south?" Thorin frowned, staring at the trolls.

"Oh, not for an age, not since a darker power ruled these lands." Thorin and I locked eyes, he clearly wanted to know more, I would not mention the darker power, I would not mention Sauron. It was clearly a battle of wills and I won out. "They could not have moved in daylight."

"There must be a cave nearby." Thorin turned with a sharp nod. I looked back at my daughter again, she was in deep conversation with Bofur, her cheeks colouring slightly, she'd been doing that more lately. She was not the little girl I had found in those woods long ago, she had grown into a beautiful young woman.
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P.O.V Firiel

"You fancy someone, don't you, lass?" Bofur smirked. Why Bofur, you little gossip you!
"N-no!" I whispered fiercely, stammering the slightest bit, I had hoped he wouldn't notice. But he did.
"Then why are you stuttering? Why are ye whispering?" He smiled, poking me.
"I am not." I said quietly, but above a whisper.
"I don't believe that for a second lass." Bofur shook his head, and looked into Firiel's eyes.
I sighed, "I might fancy someone... I just wouldn't know it. I've never fancied anyone before..."

Bofur laughed, "Ah, Come now lass, isn't there anyone you can think of?" As he said that my eyes wandered to where Kili and Bilbo walked. My cheeks flushed, "Aha! I knew it! Which one?" Bofur cried triumphantly. I thought on that for a moment drowning out Bofur's voice. Which one did I fancy?
I groaned, frustrated, "It doesn't matter Bofur! We're on an important quest, my feelings do not matter. My love life certainly does not matter."

"Ah but lass... it is important. Someone told me once...My dear mama, I think. She told me that love was-is- the most powerful thing on this earth, it makes the impossible possible. And it brings courage and strength to the weak and cowardly. Aye, love is powerful." He winked, "That or it is complete rubbish..." I stayed silent, his words still in my mind. That is—until we reached that god awful cave.
"Oh, what's that stench?!" Nori exclaimed. I had never smelled anything so awful in my life. And that was saying something after being behind Bombur when he was especially...gassy.
"It's a troll hoard. Be careful what you touch." Gandalf warned. I blanched.

"I-uh- wasn't planning on touching anything anyway..." I gagged. Gandalf made his way over to me, chuckling as he patted my back.
"You'll smell much worse than this throughout the journey, Firiel." Gandalf laughed.
"Forgive me, father, if I don't believe you." I laughed between coughs, I was trying to keep light hearted, but that wasn't the only thing that was light. My head was too. "I feel a little faint..." I said as I fell into, whom other than, Kili."
"Hello m'lady," He said, laughing. I smirked.

"I'd call you lord, however, you're anything but." Kili grinned evilly.
"Is that so? Then I guess I have no choice than to..." He picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. I giggled.
"Put me down! Put me down!" I demanded, whilst laughing madly.
"Enough!" Thorin ordered. Looking at Kili and I like we were menaces. Kili put me down at once.
"I am sorry uncle." Kili mumbled softly, watching the ground, as if it were the most interesting thing there. Thorin nodded and turned away.

I walked over to where Gloin, Bofur and Nori were. I giggled as they madly poured treasures into a chest. "We're makin' a long term deposit."Gloin declared.
"Let's get out of this foul place. Come on, let's go. Bofur! Gloin! Nori!" I walked outside of the cave and sat on a rock, Bilbo sat beside me.
"Hello Bilbo." I smiled. His deep, dark blue eyes flickered towards me shyly. I had never noticed the colour of his eyes before. They were lovely. I was shocked with myself. What was I thinking?
"H-hello Firiel." He replied, fiddling with his fingers.
I was about to say something else, but Gandalf strode over to us, ending our brief conversation. Not that we actually conversed. "Bilbo". Gandalf uttered. He had something in his hand.

"Hmm?" Bilbo looked up from his hands and gave Gandalf a questioning look.
"Here. This is about your size." Gandalf said handing Bilbo a sheath, with a blade inside.
"I can't take this." Bilbo shook his head; he made no move to take the blade.
"The blade is of Elvish make which means it will glow blue when orcs or goblins are nearby." Gandalf brandished the blade, showing it to Bilbo and I. He gave Bilbo the blade and the hobbit admired it, although he seemed to be very nervous and awkward with it.
"I have never used a sword in my life." Bilbo said looking at Gandalf.

"And I hope you never have to. But if you do, remember this: true courage is about knowing not when to take a life, but when to spare one." Gandalf wisely said before he headed over to Thorin.
"I'll teach you how to use the blade, Bilbo." I smiled. Something flashed in Bilbo's eyes quickly, before nodding.
"I'd be honoured lady Grey." Bilbo smirked, knowing that I hated formalities.
"It's Firiel to you, Mr Baggins." I grinned.
"Something's coming!" Thorin warned.

"Gandalf-" Bilbo's eyes widened in fear.
"Stay together! Hurry now. Arm yourselves." Gandalf exclaimed, wielding his sword. Bilbo unsheathed his blade and I took out my dagger. Bilbo took my wrist and started running madly after the others, when the others had stopped, he'd moved his arm in front of me protectively. Too bad he couldn't use a sword. And yet I felt surprisingly safe.
"Thieves! Fire! Murder!" A strange, familiar man cried as he rode up to the company.
"Uncle Raddy!" I hollered. Radagast looked at me and smiled, Bilbo looked at me as if I were mad.

"Radagast! Radagast the Brown. Ah. What on earth are you doing here?" Gandalf stood shocked.
"I was looking for you, Gandalf. Something's wrong. Something's terribly wrong." I gasped. What could possibly be so wrong and dangerous that it would cause uncle Radagast to ride all the way here. To seek out my father.
"Yes?" Gandalf said, waiting for the terrible news.
"Oh, just give me a minute. Um, oh, I had a thought, and now I've lost it. It was, it was right there, on the tip of my tongue." I stood utterly confused, "Oh, it's not a thought at all; it's a silly old..." Gandalf reached into Radagast's mouth and pulled out a... "-stick insect!" I giggled.

"At least it was not a stink beetle this time." I smirked. The company looked at me as if I were insane. We waited in silence for Radagast and Gandalf to finish speaking. I watched Gandalf and Radagast from afar. After a few moments I heard a howl in the distance.
"Was that a wolf? Are there--are there wolves out there?" Bilbo asked.
"Wolves? No, that is not a wolf." Bofur muttered, taking out his sword.
A warg jumped out at us. It knocked over Dori, but got stabbed and killed quickly by Thorin. Kili shot an arrow at another warg that had jumped out behind me and Dwalin; the warg got back up however, but was quickly killed by Dwalin. I hated those damn wargs.
"Warg-Scouts! Which means an Orc pack is not far behind." Thorin muttered, causing me to freeze up in shock.
"Orc pack?" Bilbo cried eyes wide with fear. I shook my head, I was no help to anyone like that, and I would not allow myself to be afraid.

"Who did you tell about your quest, beyond your kin?" Gandalf yelled, turning toward Thorin.
"No one." Thorin stood his face empty of emotion.
"Who did you tell?" Gandalf pressed the matter, desperately.
"No one, I swear. What in Durin's name is going on?" Thorin exclaimed, that was the first ounce of fear he had shown since I had met him.
"You are being hunted."