The Journey Of Eleanor Baggins (Dwalin LS)

~ Chapter 10 ~

It didn't take long for Eleanor to catch up with the company, she could not help but giggle as she heard the dwarves each bet on whether or not her brother would show up, she could hardly wait to see their reaction when her brother did turn up. Eleanor slows down her pace as she hears her brother getting closer "Wait!" Her brother calls out but none heard him, Eleanor sprinted forward, she dug her claws into the nearest tree trunk and began to climb, once up she took a little breath before testing out the branch next to her. Eleanor lets out a sigh in relief as the branch took her weight. She quickly rushes across it then pounces on to the next tree that was closest to the wizard. Eleanor leaps out of the tree and onto Gandalf shoulder.

The wizard cringes as the shifter's claws dug into his shoulder "Eleanor" He grumbled, he gently lifts the cat off his shoulder and places her in front of him.

"Bilbo will arrive in just a few seconds" She told the wizard "I do believe a few dwarves will be a bit disappointed by that" She says letting out a small giggle.

Gandalf looks upon the cat with a small smile and a twinkle in his eyes "I have no doubt they will be" Gandalf tells the shifter, he gently tugs the reins slowing his horse down.

"Wait!" The screams of Bilbo grow louder, his small feet thundered across the land, he felt breathless but still carried on. He wanted to shout at his sister for rushing off without him. However, he was a little worried about her as he did not know if she had caught up with the company "Wait!" He shouts once more, Bilbo let out a sigh of relief as his eyes gazed upon the company.

The company looked in shock at Biblo's voice, most grinned knowing they just won a bet. Eleanor looks to the leader of the group, she could see he was shocked but you could also see the hint of annoyance in his eyes "I've signed it" He says handing the contract to Balin, who took it and read it with his pocket glasses.

Balin smiled at Bilbo "Everything seems to be in order. Welcome, Mister Baggins, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield" Most of the dwarves cheered in excitement at the news of having a burglar.

Eleanor jumps from Gandalf's horse onto the ground, she runs over to her brother and brushes up againsted him "El" He scowled at her, Eleanor meows and rubs her head on the side of his leg "Don't run off again" Bilbo whispers to his sister, he gently strokes her head.

Eleanor gives the company a quick glance before turning back to her brother "I'm sorry" She faintly says. She moves away from her brother and walks back over to Gandalf. The wizard gives her a kind smile, he slides off his horse and picks her up and places her on the front of the saddle, then climbs back onto the horse.

"We aren't bringing the cat wizard" Thorin voice boomed, gaining everyones attention. The company gaze at the cat, none had seen her join the group, nor did they see her arrive with the hobbit "Go home" He commanded "shoo" He waves his arms in the direction of Gandalf and Eleanor.

Eleanor wanted to laugh and tell the stuborn dwarf off but she could not risk blowing her cover, not when they are just leaving the shire "Leave her be Thorin" Gandalf spoke up, he was highly amused at the sitiuation "She's no harm"

"Tell that to my face" Bofur complained, eyeing the cat.

Bilbo looks on in shock at the sight of a few claw marks on the dwarf's face "Sh-e di-d th-at" He stuttered out. He knew his sister would not harm anyone without reason, but to his knowledge the dwarf didn't do anything wrong.

Eleanor looks on in pride at her handy work, that would teach him from messing with her brother "She will be able to sense danger around us" Gandalf says to the dwarf king "She will be able to warn us"

"She's just a cat" Thorin says annoyed at the way the conversation was going.

"Cats have six sense Thorin" Dwalin pipes up, he didn't know why but he wanted the cat to stay "Just like every other animal does" It hurt Eleanor a little to hear her mate call her an animal. She could not wait to be human again, to be able to create a relationship with Dwalin, to get to know him as well as him getting to know her. . . . To fall in love.

Eleanor turns her attention back to the company to see Thorin is now in front of her and Gandalf. Thorin grumbles under his breath "Fine" Thorin stares into Eleanor's eyes as if he was chanellaging her. She hisses at him, not once did she break eye contact. Thorin finally looks away from Eleanor and storms back to the front of the group "Give him a pony" Thorin orders and began riding.

"No, no, no, no tha - that won't be necessary. Thank you" He protested making Eleanor giggle, she knew he wasn't getting out of riding a pony "I'm sure I can keep up on foot. I've done my fair share of walking holidays, you know. I've even got as far as Frogmorton onc-" Fili and Kili picked him up and placed him on a pony, Gandalf and Eleanor look upon the sight in amusement.

"Come on pay up" The dwarves began to throw sacks of money about.

"What is this about?" Bilbo asked confused. Eleanor glance down to her brother who was riding right next to her and Gandalf.

Eleanor looks around the group "Oh the dwarves were betting" She simply spoke up, Bilbo looks up at his sister.

"Betting on what?" He questioned.

"On whether or not you would turn up my dear Bilbo" Gandalf says.

"Most thought you wouldn't" Eleanor pipes in looking at her surrounding, her ears twitch for any unusal sounds that would be a harm to her brother and the company.

"And what did you think?" Bilbo asked as Gandalf caught his own sack of money.

"My dear fellow, I never doubted you for a second" He says tucking his money in his robe "I knew for certain when your sister jumped on my shoulders"

"Hmm, that was fun" Eleanor mused "It was a little scary, not knowng if the branch was going to hold my weight"

"Weight" Gandalf grumbled "Your a small tabby cat my dear girl" Bilbo next to him chuckled "You hardly weight anything"

Eleanor glared up at the wizard "I know that it's just I-I" Eleanor couldn't find the word to defend herself. This causes her brother and Gandalf to burst out laughing, the company turn to the hobbit and wizard.

"What is so funny?" Kili asks the pair.

"Nothing master dwarf" Bilbo speaks up, finally recovering from laughing.

Kili looks at them with his eyebrow raised, he simply shrugs his shoulders then moves back over to his brother. Gandalf and Bilbo both look at the shifter "Oh, shut up" She grumbled and turned away from the pair and began cleanng herself.

Bilbo was about to say something to his sister but was cut of by sneezing "Oh, all these horses. I'm having a reaction" Bilbo panicked, searching through his pockets but couldn't find his handkerchief "No, no wait, stop! We have to turn around" He said making the dwarves and Eleanor groan.

"What on earth is the matter?" Gandalf asks the frantic hobbit.

"I forgot my handkerchief" He says, Eleanor rolled my eyes at her brother, this was really going to be a long journey. Her ears perked at the sound of tearing, she turns to see Bofur lean over and hand Bilbo a piece of his clothing.

"Here use this" Bofur offered. Bilbo looked at it in disgust as he caught it, making the dwarves laugh.

"Move on" Thorin ordered.

"You'll have to manage without pocket - handkerchief and a many other things, Bilbo Baggins, before we reach our journeys end. You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the shire, but home is now behind you, the world is ahead" Gandalf says. Eleanor could see the nerves were finally setting in her brother, she knew he had used his rush of confidence to leave the shire but now he has to face the danger of middle earth.

"Don't worry Bilbo" Eleanor say gaining his attention, she stands up and leaps off of Gandalf's horse and onto her brother pony, she gently rubs up against him and purred, In that moment Bilbo felt safe and his nerves died down a little "I'll protect you brother"