Time to Shine

Chapter 11- That's Just The Way it Goes

*All rights to Tolkien and P.J.*
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A few miles from picking up a hitchhiking Bilbo...

Tiny acorn buttons, which belong to a certain hobbit, are reflecting the bright morning sun into my eyes once again.

Our Company has been on the road for about two hours since Bilbo came running down through the brambles and blackberry bushes waving the contract through the air and hollering for all of Hobbiton to hear about our 'secret' adventure.

As you can imagine, the welcoming committee of one Thorin Oakenshield was about as heartwarming as the Green Lantern movie was good, which goes to say it was exceedingly awkward and a downright waste of vocal gorgeousness, al la Mark Strong. Let me tell you how it went down through my little eyes:

Here's what Thorin's stare said: "Mr. Hobbit, you are totally out of your depth and I want nothing to do with you or your horrible un-Bear Grylls-like survival skills *hair toss*."

Bilbo's sass face: "Suck it up bro, I'm not leaving Aria to the wilds or to your manners."  I admit I just pictured some Jersey or Geordie Shore bro, my bad.

Then: "I signed it! I signed the contract!"

Thorin for realsies: "Give him a pony!"

From there you can get the idea. Bilbo was dwarf-handled onto Myrtle and we all got our share of the pot, so make that 13 coins each! Old Gandy apparently makes bank somewhere doing his wizardy stuff. I did receive a glare from Bilbo when Bofur tossed his 'handkerchief' right into his face, though I made up for it by handing him one I packed away for emergencies only. He pretty much cheered up after that.

Honestly, though. The ride through the Shire was amazing, there is nothing small here, just the occasional Hobbit farmer tending to their crops and seeing their tiny but sharp scythes and whatnots. That was a tad bit scary, imagine your one of your surly uncles and shrink him down to 3 feet, and give him a sharp weapon to protect his most treasured possession. Now imagine that possession being a pumpkin patch or a stalk of corn, it totes defies the possessiveness of the dwarves. In response of the mini-growl given Bifur kindly, I say kindly and not at all humorously signed something akin to 'come on loser, we're going to Bree' but darn near it, took Cash's reins and swiftly led me away towards the Company with Bilbo waiting for me. Leaving a loud sniff and grumble behind us. Gentle folk my aunt fanny. (You naughty, you.)

"Miss Aria, how are you doing back there?" said Fili in an amused voice over the dropping of rain, with Kili trying to hide a snortle but failing and accidentally inhaling water. Fili begins to smack him on the back, a mite too sharp, and shoving him into the saddlehorn. Epic.

Amongst the rain I hear some grumbles and mumbles coming from the Company and Gloin talking about how his wife's beard never droops in the rain because it is so beautiful that the rain dares not to wither it.

What is it amusing to Fili you ask? I am currently half drowning in the rain and I hate water. It's ironic that my last name is Edgewater but due to an unfortunate occurrence in my Blue Period, I'm kidding that was just... a lame art joke, anyways back in my early years of learning to swim I nearly drowned. If learning to swim means being tossed into the pool at 5 and left to my own devices then you understand my dilemma. I take to water like an Orca deciding to convert to vegetarianism. No way in hell. Though I can technically swim, I loathe it.

"Gandaaaaaalf!" I whine, yes I whine, you would too if you were freezing you butt off, which caused the remaining dwarves to level an annoyed glare in my direction, apparently they abhor water too, "How long is it going to rain? It's been raining ever since we reached the boarder of Farmer Maggot's crop and that was over three hour ago!" I say pushing a glob of wet hair off my forehead. My jacket can only repel so much water.