The Hobbit: An Unexpected Discovery

Chapter six: The company of Thorin Oakenshield

The next morning, Faerydae awoke in the arms of Thorin Oakenshield.

"Good morning." She said

"Thorok mornuroz shinuroz kor (good morning shining star)." Said the young Prince. He sat up quietly and started to pack his bag.

"What are you doing? It's too early for this, come back to bed." Fae moaned. Thorin just chuckled and shook his head. "for a highly respected elven lady, you sure do not act like one." he muttered.

"and that is why you love me." Fae said jumping up. "You hate the elves remember, don't see why but there you go." Thorin sighed.

"you know perfectly well why I hate the elves."

"That was one elf. It does not call for you to hate my entire species. If you tried you would find that a lot of them are like me." Fae tried again, taking the food out of Bomber's pack and into hers so that he would not be tempted along the way.

"lare, othok ath da akkor breakrumm shinuroz kor. (no, you are the myth breaker shining star)" Thorin said, taking the food out of Fae's pack and into his own, so that she would not be tempted. "Besides you don't even look like an elf, you are too short for that."

"That is a preference Thorin son of Thrain son of Thror." She argued, "I could be taller if I wished, it's just...I choose to be short. For you." She nodded her head violently at that last bit. Thorin, chuckled once more and walked forward and pecked her lips softly. "Come. We have a long journey ahead."

The company of dwarves were at the border of the shire when the first bet was placed, by none other than Fae herself.

"10 coins that the hobbit shows up." She said to Thorin. The dwarf just rolled his eyes and said, "I do not partake in bets Fae, you know this"

"Don't worry Fae, I'll do it. You're on!" Fili said. Riding up beside her and shaking her hand.

"Hey! Don't leave me out! I bet the Hobbit will turn up. 10 coins. Dwalin?" Kili shouted

"Aye, you're on laddie." Dwalin answered.

"Gandalf?" Fae questioned.

"Why, I bet Mr Baggins will turn up after all. You give it time. 20 coins." The wizard answered. Various shouts of 'you're on' and 'bring it' echoed around the company as they rode on. Not a minute had passed when shouts of wait called the company to a halt.

"Wait! Wait!"

The dwarves, hearing these shouts gently brought their ponies to a stop. To everyone's amazement and Gandalf and Fae's delight, none other than Bilbo Baggins ran over the hill, waving the contract, which Fae had so conveniently placed on the living room table, in the air.

"I signed it!" he shouted, a little out of breath. The hobbit reached up and handed the contract to Balin, who with a wink to Fae, inspected it closely with his pocket glass.

"Everything appears to be in order. Welcome, Master Baggins, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield." Balin said. Fae and the dwarves cheered loudly, however Thorin did not look too impressed. Seeing this Fae smacked him on the arm.

"Lighten up Oakenshield, you now have a burglar." She laughed. Thorin just grunted and shouted, "Give him a pony."

"No, no, no, no, that--that won't be necessary, thank you," Bilbo protested, "I--I'm sure I can keep up on foot. I-- I--I've done my fair share of walking holidays, you know. I even got as far as Frog Morton once--WAGH!" the poor Hobbit shouted as he was lifted up onto a pony by Fili and Kili. They just looked at each other and laughed, as Fae shook her head in despair.

"Welcome Bilbo. It's good to see your face again." She said, as the dwarves started to shout once more.

"Oh, God here we go again." Thorin muttered under his breath. Fae just laughed.

"Lighten up grouchy, you love us." She said kissing him on the cheek.

"Come on, Nori, pay up. Go on." Oin shouted. Nori sighed and tossed a sack of money to Oin; sacks of money began passing between the dwarves.

"What's that about?" Bilbo asked

"Oh, they took wagers on whether or not you'd turn up. Most of them bet that you wouldn't." Gandalf said and Fae nodded in agreement.

"What did you think?" the hobbit asked.

Gandalf shrugged and there was a moment of silence before he caught a sack of money tossed to him and puts it in his bag "My dear fellow, I never doubted you for a second." He said gleefully. Fae laughed as she got thrown one from a rather reluctant Fili.

"Cheers milady." Kili says as he rode up beside her, pocketing his wins from a very grumpy Dwalin. The company once again rode along in peace however that was soon disrupted by Bilbo sneezing loudly.

"Ohh. All this horse hair, I'm having a reaction." He explained to a rather worried Fae. He searched his pockets for his handkerchief, not being able to find it he looks up in shock and horror.

"No, no, wait, wait, stop! Stop! We have to turn around."

The entire company came to a halt, for the second time that day, and the dwarves started to object and ask what the problem was, however they were soon silenced by the warning glare of Faerydae.

"What on earth is the matter?" she asked.

"I forgot my handkerchief."

Bofur tore a strip of cloth from his clothing and tossed it to Bilbo.

"Here! Use this."

Bilbo caught the rag and looked at it in disgust, an expression which made Gandalf chortle with laughter. The dwarves soon joined in, all except Thorin of course.

"Move on." Said Thorin angrily.

"You'll have to manage without pocket-handkerchiefs and a good many other things, Bilbo Baggins, before we reach our journey's end. You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire, but home is now behind you; the world is ahead." Fae said excitedly.