Dawn (A Hobbit Fanfic)

Chapter 5 - Okay, this time I did cheat.

I woke up to a loud knocking and Dwalin calling that we'd leave in a bit. I shot up and almost immediately fell down again when I tripped over my boot.
I am a graceful Elf like that.
I washed myself quickly and braided my hair down my back and made sure that my ears were completely covered again.
I pulled on my pair of semi tight black pants and worn leather boots. A royal blue tunic that I covered loosely with a leather corset. It was the only sort of armour I could afford. I put on my belt and cloak and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked myself in the eyes and said: "What have you gotten yourself into now, Dawn."

When I saw the still unsigned contract I wrote a small note saying "Pretty please?" and put them both where Bilbo would surely see them. Then I ran out to see the Dwarves just leaving Bag End.

"Hey! Wait up!" I shouted. They didn't wait. Assholes.
My horse looked at me expectantly. I gave her a quick pat on the nose and swiftly climbed on her back and jumped the fence. After a few strides I caught up to the Dwarves and Gandalf.
"So Bilbo's not coming then?" I asked.
"He wouldn't leave the warmth and comfort of his hearth fire behind," answered Thorin.
"We do keep an extra pony with us just in case," continued Fili.
My horse nudged Bombur, who gave her a carrot and a pat. Speaking of...
"Do we have enough food? If not I could run ahead and shoot something," I offered.
"We are all sorted, lady Dawn, thank you," answered Balin.
"Right. Oh, and please just call me Dawn. I've had to lie in the mud and sleep above a rowdy bar for two weeks. There is not much lady about me anymore."

"Not Born-At-Dawn?" laughed Bofur. It was a good humoured laugh.
"You could, if you wish to end up Dead-At-Dawn." I tried to sound as serious as possible.
"Very well, Dawn," Balin said.
I smiled at him, and he smiled back.
We soon entered a forest. It smelled really nice, once you got over the smells of thirteen Dwarves.
In the distance I heard a pair of running footsteps and heavy breathing. An idea struck me.
"I bet he's going to come with his contract signed."
"Huh?"
"Bilbo. He's coming. I'll bet yesterday's winnings on it." I smirked at Thorin at the last sentence. He was riding in front of me though, so he didn't notice. He probably guessed though.
"I'll take that bet, five gold pieces says he's not coming," stated Fili confidently. Soon, most Dwarves and even Gandalf had placed a bet. Most of them bet against Bilbo's joining of the company.

Thorin was determined to win against me after I royally kicked his royal ass yesterday (that might be an overstatement.) He will learn soon enough not to take up my bets.
He placed twenty gold pieces against Bilbo. I looked at him in mild-shock. He just looked away and growled something I couldn't quite understand. Khuzdul maybe.

The footfalls had become louder now. And were soon accompanied by a voice.
"Wait!"
For some reason, we did halt now. The reason more than likely being that I was riding a horse and Bilbo was running out of breath.
He came running up to the side of our little caravan. "I signed it," he panted and handed Balin his contract. The company looked from eachother to Bilbo to me with expressions ranging from impressed to mildly annoyed.

"Everything seems to be in order. Welcome, master Baggins, to the Company of Thorin Oakenshield."
I grinned boastfully at the people who bet against him, especially Thorin, it was really fun to get on his nerves.
Thorin gave me a disapproving glare. "Give him a pony," he sighed, and despite Bilbo's protests, he was hauled up the spare pony by the princes.
Suddenly, a little coin pouch flew by my head. I wasn't quick enough to catch it.
"Shit! Little warning next time?"

Some of the dwarves looked at me amused, others not so much, then again, did Thorin ever look amused? Maybe I could make a point in trying to make him laugh. Yes, that was bound to annoy him, great idea, I'm a genius!
I jumped off my horse and quickly retrieved the pouch before jumping back on as more pouches flew around. Bilbo was confused and asked Gandalf what this was about.
"Well, you see, our dearest Dawn started a bet on whether you would show up or not," he explained.

Bilbo shot me a murder glare. So now the score was: Thorin was dead, I was dead twice, Gandalf dead and Fili dead. Getting nice and cozy in the afterlife.
"She bet in your favour, there's no reason to kill her. Yet."
"Excuse me?"
"And what did you bet?" Bilbo continued.
"Well I-" he stopped mid sentence to catch a bag of coins himself, "I never doubted you for second."
Thorin slowed his pony down and pushed a heavy pouch in my hands. "Consider this your 'little warning', in case you don't catch it," he mumbled.
"Thank you," was my surprisingly polite answer. I meant it to sound more sarcastic, but I found this quite endearing, despite myself, so it came out more polite than I wanted it to. I hoped he knew what I meant.

He sped up again to be able to lead the Company. I sped up to ride next to his nephews. "Is it really a good idea to follow the man who got lost in the Shire twice?" I asked them.
"Probably not," Fili said while Kili snickered.
We continued to chat with the three of us deep into the night, after we'd set up camp. To which I was no help at all, because all tasks had apparently been divided before we'd set off. So I just kept Fili and Kili from their chores.
Fili, Kili and I quickly became friends. We told jokes to each other. They badly flirted with me and I returned their intentionally bad flirts with new flavours. They taught me Khuzdul swear words. I would have taught them Elvish swear words, but that would give me away. Maybe some other time. I nearly fell of my horse twice because of the laughter, and once because Dwalin threw something at us because we were too loud. I threw it right back and missed. I hope it wasn't something important.

-~-

"Say Gandalf, can't you do something about this deluge?"
"It is raining master Dwarf, and it will continue to rain until the rain is done. If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another Wizard," Gandalf snapped.
"Are there any?" Bilbo asked, ever so curious.
Gandalf didn't hear though.
"Other Wizards, Gandalf!" I repeated for him.
"There were six of us until my apprentice Dawn the Green got her title revoked. The greatest of our order is Saruman the White. Then there are two Blue Wizards," he paused for a bit, pondering. "You know, I've quite forgotten their names."

Saruman is the greatest my ass. Also, low blow man!

"They won't be happy to hear that," I mused. "When they ever show up to their summons." I couldn't keep them apart after a few decades, which was bad enough. Meanwhile Gandalf knew them for at least as long as I was alive and he didn't even know their names.
"Who is the sixth?"
"Well, that would be Radagast, the Brown."
"Is he a great wizard, or is he more... like you?" Gandalf looked offended at Bilbo's question and I giggled.
"He is like Gandalf in a way. I always liked him," I answered.
"I think he is a very great wizard in his own way. He is a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals to others," Gandalf explained.

"So, Dawn! Can you put an end to this deluge?" Nori tried me instead.
"I am a healer, not a... whatever you call someone who can change the weather."
"That's a bit disappointing."
"I bet it is."
"No more bets, you always win them. It's no fun," Bofur stopped me.
"How did you know Bilbo was coming?" Ori asked.
I looked at Bilbo. "I know him well enough. And you don't listen carefully enough."
"Huh, what's that?" Kili teased.
"A boot up your arse, as soon as we stop."