Spirit Bound

From Bad to Worse

Disclaimer: I do not own The Hobbit or any of it's characters. Everything belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson. However I do own Ashlynn and her story.

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                                                                                Chapter 11

Jo and I jog quickly down one of the paths leading to the mountain gate. I didn't want Thorin to leave us behind.

'I wonder if there's any food left or did all of the dwarves eat it all?'

"Hey, there's Fili and Kili. I guess they were both looking for me too" I point to the two brothers who were waving.

I changed out of my dress and put on a pair of leggings and a grey tunic with a silver belt and my cloak as soon as I had left the White Council. Jo was also wearing a grey tunic but with a gold belt and her cloak.

We walk over to The Company and Thorin scowls at us "You're late".

"The White Council took a long time, do you have a problem with it? I glare back at him "Is there any breakfast left?" I ask, looking around.

"Yeah, we saved some for you" the brothers say together. Fili gives a plate that was filled with a large piece of bread with cheese on it, a few slices of bacon, a large red apple and a cup of water to Jo.

Kili gives an identical plate to me. I flash him a smile "Thanks Kili"

He blushes "You're welcome Ash".

I dig into my food and finish my bacon in under five seconds. The dwarves stare at me. I take a huge gulp of water, "What? I really like bacon".

"We can see that lass" grins Bofur.

I finish all my food quickly and stand up "You ready to go, Jo?"

"Yeah" she stands up too and takes the last mouthful of water. Jo places her dirty plate on the dining table and secures her broad sword on her back.

I do the same with my plate. "Hey are we all ready?" I ask the rest of The Company. They nod in response. I tighten the straps that were holding my twin swords in an X shape on my back. I almost forgot the gifts that Galadriel and Vanya had given me. I pull out Vanya's gift and hide it in my right boot. Next I pull out Galadriel's gift to me and open the case. I admire the twelve ring daggers before I begin to hide them in every inconspicuous place. I hide three daggers on each of my hips, two in each of my boots and one up each of my sleeves.

"How many weapons do you have?" asks Kili.

I smile sheepishly "Including both my knives and swords?"

"Yes" says Kili.

"You have knives?" asks Fili.

"Yeah, throwing knives. And to answer you question Kili, I have my two swords, a knife that Vanya gave me, and twelve ring daggers that Galadriel gave me. So altogether, I have fifteen weapons" I state.

"Why are you so heavily armed?" asks Kili.

"You can never be too prepared" I shrug "Are we all ready to move out" I ask.

"Yes" replies Thorin. "Be on your guard; we're about to step over the edge of the wild. Balin, you know these paths; lead on"

Balin nods and walks up to the front of the Company. Bilbo, Jo and I turn around to look at our last view of Rivendell. I sigh and turn back to the steep path ahead. I tap Jo's shoulder when I notice Thorin glaring at us.