Not Forsaken

Chapter 14

She was awake before dawn, unable to sleep as her mind was busy. The dwarves quickly went about tidying Bilbo's poor house, they even were kind enough to to clean the bathroom and set the plumbing to rights. Luliana had ventured in there briefly the night before. Something she quite regretted and she had quickly decided that she would be safer out of doors. The plumbing, she thought, was destroyed for certain. But as they left, the only sign of the unexpected party the night before was the contract that was left in Bilbo's sitting room.

Bilbo was still asleep when the company started out that morning, their ponies and supplies had been left just outside town. Luliana walked Gypsy and tried to avoid speaking to Thorin. She willed herself to not look at him for even a moment.

The dwarves had started taking bets on wether or not the hobbit would turn up. No one had bother to wake him, and the contract was still unsigned. Luliana regretted not saying goodbye to their host, but she had a feeling he would turn up. Nori shot her a glance. "You want to place a bet, lass? You think our gentle hobbit will turn up or not?"

"I do believe he will," Luliana shot back, suddenly quite certain.

Nori laughed. "I'm sure to make a killin' on this one!" She glanced back at Nori, eyeing him suspiciously. She had seen him stuffing some spoons into his pockets, spoons that were certainly Mr. Baggins's.

"I will bet Bilbo's spoons you won't," she shot back at Nori. He looked away uncomfortably, hoping she had not seen him, knowing that she probably knew anyway. Just a keepsake, he told himself.

"It was a waste of our time, stopping in the Shire," another voice called out.

Luliana rode on in silence, enjoying the scenery around her, for the first time in as long as she could remember she was not afraid. She was sure that these dwarves would protect each other, and probably her as well. They were just approaching her camp when she thought she heard someone shouting, off in the distance.

"Wait! Wait!" The company stopped, and there, running as fast as his little legs and disgusting, hairy feet could carry him, was Bilbo Baggins. "I signed it!" he proclaimed proudly, waving his contract In the air Groans came from a few of the dwarves, who had obviously lost quite a bit of coin, now that he had shown up. Balin inspected the contract, and welcomed Bilbo to the company of Thorin Oakenshield.

"Give him a pony," Luliana heard Thorin grumble, sounding most irritated. He clearly thought the hobbit had no place in this company, but Gandalf had insisted. He really didn't have a choice.

Bilbo was clearly uncomfortable riding, Luliana doubted he had ever been on a pony before in his life. He looked quite uncomfortable, almost disgusted. He did seem quite out of place, she mused, studying his outfit carefully. He looked as if he meant to go out fishing for the afternoon. He suddenly started sneezing, and madly searching his pockets.

"Stop! We must go back!" He shouted, clearly annoyed.

"Whatever is the matter?" Gandalf asked him.

"I forgot my pocket handkerchief." Bilbo said, as if everyone in the company would understand completely and turn around.

Thorin rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Move on!" He ordered, clearly not sympathetic to Bilbo's plight. Bofur ripped a section from his coat and tossed it to Bilbo. "Here, use this!" Bilbo reluctantly caught it, clearly disgusted.

"Here." Luliana did feel quite sorry for Mr. Baggins. She gave him a clean piece of cloth from her supplies, figuring it was about the same size as a handkerchief.

"Thank you," Bilbo accepted it gratefully, a sheepish look on his face. Luliana felt sorry for him suddenly, he was obviously not used to adventures.

"Pay up, Nori!" Someone shouted. Suddenly small bags of coins were sailing through the air. Luliana rode up besides Nori. "Pay up," she said, holding out her hand. Nori looked over at her, disgusted, and handed her a small bag of coins. She put the bag in her pocket, and held her hand out again. "We had a bet, Nori." She looked at him again, not backing down. He begrudgingly shoved his hand into his coat and pulled out four of Bilbo's spoons. Each one was engraved with the letters "BB".

"Nice doing business with you, Master Nori." She smirked at him, and turned Gypsy to ride beside Bilbo.

"I believe these are yours?" Luliana said as she held the spoons out to Bilbo.

"How in the..." He stammered.

"Don't ask," she answered, rolling her eyes, and cocking her head in Nori's direction.

Bilbo gave her a bright, friendly smile. "Thank you, Luliana. Thank you."

"Don't mention it, kind sir. Thank you for your hospitality. I don't think I would have been able to be as gracious of a host had I been faced with the same circumstances." She winked, and shot a knowing glance at Gandalf, who simply shrugged his shoulders, and pulled out his pipe.