Not Forsaken

Chapter 10

Luliana had no idea how long she had been asleep. It felt like forever, as she woke up with her right side completely numb. Clearly she had slept and not moved at all. It took her a moment to get her bearing, her fire was completely out, just a pile of ash, and it was already evening. She finally stood up, picking out some leaves that had become tangled in her long, loose hair. She wrapped up her bedroll, and decided that it was time to start loading up her little pony.

"Sorry, Gypsy," she said to the little pony. "Time to load up." She began strapping on the animal's saddle, making sure the blanket underneath was smooth, and then started to add the few bags that contained the supplies that she had gathered over the last several days. She fed the pony an apple, which he munched happily as she tugged at the leather straps and such holding everything together.

"All set, I suppose," Luliana said to herself. She was sorry to leave her little spot, but it was time. She carefully ensured that the fire was completely out, covering the area with a couple small piles of dirt, stamping the area flat with her boot. "Leave only footprints," she remembered Hopcyn telling her, many times. "And only if you must." It was always better to leave no trace, Luliana had found. She did not fancy being tracked. Her father had taught her well, not only to track, but also to cover up her own trail.

She walked Gypsy out to the area where she was to meet Gandalf. At dusk, he had told her, and that time was fast approaching. For the first time since Bree, she began to feel a bit nervous, unsure of what she faced, but also excited to see her dwarf again. Her dwarf. Oh my word, she thought to herself. He is most certainly NOT my dwarf. Why do I keep doing that? Once again, she chastised herself for her thoughts, trying to think of something else. Anything else. It seemed all she could think of was the dwarf. This Thorin Oakenshield character. It annoyed her and comforted her at the same time, although she knew not why. He did have a rather handsome face, she found herself thinking.

"Argh!" She grunted rather loudly, kicking at a mound of gravel.

"Well, what have we here?" A familiar voice startled her. Gandalf had arrived, precisely at the wrong time, she thought, embarrassed. "Are you quite all right, my dear girl?" He asked, a quizzical smile crossing his face.

"Yes, Gandalf, I am quite fine." She answered quickly, not wanting him to ask any questions that would make her blush redder than she was sure her face already was. "I was not expecting you this soon, it it time already?"

"Yes, my dear. It is time. Are you ready to leave? We still have a bit of a walk to Mr. Baggins's house." Gandalf stepped over to the little pony, patting her soft muzzle. "Why this is a fine, sturdy animal indeed!" He said, quite pleased at Luliana's choice in ponies. "She will certainly be able to travel far."

She glanced proudly at her little pony, "Her name is Gypsy," she told Gandalf. "Do you have a pony?" She asked him, and then chuckled to herself. "Well, I guess you would need a horse, now, wouldn't you?" Smiling and looking up at Gandalf. She chuckled once again, thinking of someone as tall as him trying to rider her little pony.

"I do have a horse, he is waiting for us in Hobbiton. I have already been to see Mr. Baggins today, and felt safe leaving him to rest for the day. Shall we?" Gandalf stretched out a long arm, motioning to the road ahead.

"Mr. Baggins must be quite agreeable to allow such a large company into his home," Luliana offered, leading her pony after Gandalf. "Why, I should find it quite overwhelming myself." She said matter-of-factly, more curious than ever about this little hobbit. I hope he doesn't have disgusting feet, she thought to herself, shuddering.

"Oh, Bilbo Baggins may not find things so agreeable, once he knows what he is in for." Gandalf replied, a small laugh escaping his lips that were curled into a mischievous grin.

They walked on for a while, and came to the borders of Hobbiton. Luliana could see round little doors and windows, soft light flooding out of some of them. There were spring flowers everywhere she looked, gardens, wash hanging out to dry. She looked around her, and could hear hobbits talking here and there, laughing. She smelled the scent of baking in the air, the perfume of flowers and pipe smoke. It seemed such a friendly, peaceful, beautiful place to live. She wondered why her family had never lived in such a place, thinking it may have been wonderful to grow up surrounded by kind, round faces. Every hobbit that passed grinned shyly at them, all very polite, if not a bit puzzled by the pair. This tall old man and this tiny woman.

They were all quite plump, she thought to herself. Unfortunately, they all had those big, disgusting, hairy feet. But they all seemed kind, so she tried her best to smile back, fighting the urge to look down with disgust.

"I hate their feet," she muttered to herself, not aware that she had said it quite out loud.

"What's that, my dear?" Asked Gandalf.

"Oh, it's nothing," she said quickly. Embarrassed that she had spoken so.

Suddenly Luliana could hear in the distance a commotion, loud stomping feet, gruff voices ringing out in the quiet evening air.

"Ah. Here are some of our company now." Gandalf smiled.

Luliana suddenly panicked, realizing she was not ready to meet all these dwarves and hobbits all at once. She suddenly began to feel quite ill, dizzy even. Would they accept her? Were there any other women in this company? What if they didn't like her? Would HE be here? Right now?!

"My dear," Gandalf had stopped, and was looking down kindly at her. "Please try to calm yourself. There is nothing to fear." He smiled at Luliana reassuringly, glancing to her hand that was gripping tightly at a loose lock, threatening to pull it clean out by the roots.

Luliana did her best to calm herself. She was not used to being in the company of others, and found that it made her quite nervous. She quickly straightened her cloak, checked her tunic, and nervously fingered her new braids.

They had stopped in front of a round, green door. They waited for the group of dwarves to arrive, and then Gandalf rang the bell.