A totally expected journey

And the journey begins

Laura's POV
I woke up in a strange room. It took a moment for everything to come back, but eventually it did. I got out of the bed. I reached for my bag which was at the end of the bed. One of the Dwarves must have put it there. I looked inside. I pulled out my spare clothes which had dried overnight. I quickly got changed then went out. It seemed I was one of the first up. I walked outside and stretched to my full height.
I thought about what we were getting ourselves into. I thought about how we can't say anything to the company about where we come from. We don't want to have a case of the butterfly effect. We have to make sure our being here effects the outcome of this quest in the smallest way possible.
"Enjoying the morning air?" I turn to see Gandalf behind me.
"Morning Gandalf," he nodded his head to me, but stayed silent.
"Gandalf, there is something I want to discuss with you," I say. If there is anyone who will know what to do it's Gandalf.
"Yes Laura, what is it?" He looked at me curiously.
"Well Gandalf I don't know how to really say this, so I'm just gonna blurt it out, me and my friends aren't from this world, we're from an entirely different universe," I looked at Gandalf and waited.
"I thought as much," was his reply
"So you know there are other worlds out there," I state simply.
"Yes, but I have never heard of people moving from world to world," I listened gaging weather or not to tell him about The Lord of the Rings and what happens in it.
"This concerns me, if you came through, maybe others can, I must consult the head of my order," I momentarily panicked. I can't let Saruman know about us
"Gandalf, maybe you shouldn't do that," I thought hard for an excuse then it came to me "Wouldn't it be best to focus on Reclaiming Erebor first? If Saruman found out about the quest, he might try and stop us," I mentally face palmed as I realised that I had just told Gandalf what Saruman's name is. How am I supposed to worm my way out of this one. To my relief, Gandalf nodded his head.
"Yes you're right, we should wait until after Erebor is reclaimed," I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well I'd better go get the others up," I say leaving Gandalf standing on the front step. Well I just dodged a bullet.
Abi's POV
I awoke to someone shaking me.
"Rise and shine, breakfasts ready," I opened my eyes to see Laura "Come on munchkin, get dressed," I slowly got up and grabbed my bag, which was placed at the end of the bed. I pulled out a pair of black leggings, my grey top which went down to mid thigh, it had purple and black dripping down the front, white and grey jacket and grabbed my grey cloak from the end of the bed. I made sure they were all dry from yesterday's down pour, then what happened clicked back into focus. We were in a different world. With the company. About to go on a quest where we very may lose our lives. Woah my life is weird.
I quickly made sure no one was in the room then I changed. I walked out of the room then into the kitchen. Bombur handed me a bowl of porridge. Might as well get used to it. I quickly ate my food then went to talk to the others. Before I could get there Bofur came up to me.
"So lassie, Thorin wants to know if you or your companions have ever ridden a horse before?" He said with a cheery smile.
"Oh um, well I know Shania has, but I don't think the rest of us really have any experience with that sort of thing, maybe Laura, but I'm not sure," I said while looking at my feet. He laughed.
"Alright then, I'll go tell Thorin," with one last smile he walked off. I continued over to the other girls.
"Hey munchkin, finally awake," I stuck my tongue out at Laura.
"Just because you're a giant," I pout
"Actually, I'm a normal sized human, you're the tiny one," I tried to scowl, but I just ended up laughing.
"Anyway, hey Laura can you ride a horse?" I asked.
"Yeah, I've done it a few times, why?" Laura replied.
"Bofur just asked me if any of us could ride horses, I obviously said that Shania can ride a horse and I also said that you might be able to," Laura nodded.
"So if that's all Bofur was asking, why were you acting like that?" Shania asked.
"Like what?" I questioned.
"Like a really shy person, looking down at your feet, looking all innocent," Laura supplied.
"Hey I may be loud around you, but when I meet someone new for the first time, quite often I'm really shy, you should see me when I order food, my volume drops really low," I say. They look at me funny.
"Hello ladies," Balin said coming out of nowhere "We're leaving shortly, I've heard that only two of you can ride,"
"Yeah, that would be me and Shania" Laura replied for us.
"Well come along," he said turning. We walked after him. Outside everyone was getting ready to go.
"There is no way I'm riding one of those midget ponies," Shania suddenly said.
"And why ever not?" Balin asked.
"I'm used to a taller horse," she said simply.
"A good thing to," we all turned to see Gandalf leading two horses over to us. One was chestnut in colour, while the other black with a white star on his head. Shania fist pumped.
"Yes!" she ran over and took the reins of the black one.
"How did you?" Laura asked.
"That is for me to know and for you to ponder," he said.
"Who cares about the how, I'm just happy with the what," I chuckled at Shania. Kíli walked up.
"There is no way you can get on that thing without help," he said.
"Wanna bet?" Shania challenged with a knowing smirk.
"Ok, how much are you willing to bet?" Kíli said with an equal amount of confidence
"How about ten silver pieces?" Fíli said getting in on the bet.
"Okay, it's a deal," Shania said. What was she doing, we don't have any money.
"May I join in this," Bofur said. Shania nodded smiling.
"I'll raise it to twenty silver pieces," Bofur said. She smiled and nodded again.
"Ready?" she asked. They all nodded smiling to themselves, thinking that they'd got some easy money. Shania smiled and within seconds she had vaulted onto her new horse. The Dwarves jaws dropped.
"Well, pay up," Shania said looking down at them. The three grumbled and threw her three pouches with the promised money inside. She smiled and laughed at them before reaching for her purse and putting ten of the silver pieces in then calling the rest of us over. She gave us all a pouch each.
"We shouldn't be broke here," she said. I smiled and took the money.
"Thanks," I say.
"Hobbit! You'll be riding with Bofur! Elf! You can ride with your companion!" Thorin yelled from behind us. I turned to see all the Dwarves mounting their ponies. I located Bofur, I wasn't really up for someone teasing me all the way to Erebor. He smiled as I came over.
"So, you've never ridden a horse before," He said. I shook my head.
"No," I replied.
"Well come on then, there's always a first try for everything," he said giving me an infectious smile.
"I guess," with out another word he grabbed my waist and hauled me up onto his pony before getting on himself. I felt kinda nervous being so close to a guy. But it was Bofur, he wouldn't hurt a fly, unless said fly was a bad fly.
"Relax lass, I'm not gonna hurt you," Bofur said. I realised that I had been so tense and relaxed.
Once everyone had mounted we set off.
I heard lots of conversation about weather or not Bilbo would come.
"So lass, do you think the Hobbit will come?" Bofur asked.
"Well, Gandalf must have had a reason for choosing him, so... yeah I do think he's gonna come," I replied.
"Are you willing to bet on that?" Kíli said coming up to us.
"Didn't you two already lose one bet today, do you really want to lose two?" I ask without really thinking.
"A bit too confident aren't you?" Bofur asked.
"I trust Gandalf decisions," I say simply.
"Well then how about a bet, fifteen silver pieces says he doesn't show?" Kíli asked.
"Okay," we shake hands and I smile quietly to myself. I just got myself fifteen silver pieces.
"Well lass, I didn't think you'd be one to bet," Bofur said. I laugh.
"I'm not really, I've never really bet on anything before," I could feel him shaking his head at me.
"Well that explains a lot," he chuckled.
Half an hour of riding went by and Kíli was hanging around like a vulture. I was starting to doubt that Bilbo would come myself. What if us being here changed things? I think that Bofur figured out that I was a bit nervous.
"You alright lass?" He asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I reply.
"Well Abi, hope you're ready to pay up," Kíli said coming up again. I was about to ask for a bit more time when I heard.
"WAIT! I'VE SIGNED IT! I've signed it," I smiled at Kíli who looked absolutely dejected about being cheated out of money. Bilbo handed Balin the contract.
"Well, everything seems to be in order, welcome to the company of Thorin Oakenshield," I smiled and cheered with everyone else. Then I looked at Kíli.
"Well Kíli, pay up," he grumbled.
"How'd I loose to a girl two times in a row?" I just smiled sweetly and help my hand out. He handed the money over. I placed it into my jacket pocket.
"Well you're a lucky lass," I try, I repeat try to look at Bofur. It ended up with me looking straight up.
"Why's that?" I ask. He chuckled at me.
"I know you only had ten silver pieces," he whispered. I laughed.
"Yeah, true dat," I looked forward again.
"Wait we have to go back!" Bilbo called.
"What's wrong?" One of the Dwarves asked.
"I forgot my handkerchief," the Dwarves burst out laughing when he said that. Bofur tore a piece of his shirt off.
"Here use this," he said handing the cloth over to Bilbo, who looked at it in disgust. I smiled at his reaction. I got the feeling that I would spend a lot of time with him. Shania and Dansoa came over.
"Helloo," I say brightly.
"Helloo, how are you?" she questioned.
"Just dandy, you're tall," I observe.
"You are a munchkin," Laura said coming up on the other side.
"Yes, you tell me every chance you get," I say with a friendly smile.
"I swear you just keep getting shorter and shorter," all three of us laugh at that.
"I wonder how Bilbo's going," I say once our laughter has died down. Shania turns around in her saddle.
"He's talking to Fíli," she says.
"Okay, that's fine," I say.
"You sound like you're his mother," Bofur says deciding to join the conversation.
"Well someone has to be the mother," I say.
"Yeah right," Shania scoffs.
"Well sorry for trying to make sure my friends/acquaintances are alright, maybe I won't any more," I say with a humours twinkle in my eyes.
"You do that, I can take care of myself," Shania says dramatically.
"Then why don't you just leave?" I say with just as dramatically.
"I will then, if that's how you feel," and she rode off to talk to Kílí. I burst out laughing.
"I'm not entirely sure what just happened there," Bofur said looking very confused.
"Don't worry," I say through my giggles.
"To understand them, you'd need to understand the female mind, and even most females can't figure that out," Laura said.
"Okay, I'm going to stay out of this one," Bofur decided.
"Good idea," I say over my shoulder.
"What?!" I turned to see Kíli looking at Shania in disbelief.
"Did she just explain to him what Martha means to us?" I ask. I look at Laura and we both start to laugh.
"Umm, I don't know if I should ask," Bofur says causing us to laugh some more.
"No you don't want to know," I say tears forming in my eyes from laughing so hard.
"Okay," he looked at us like we were the strangest things he'd ever seen. Suddenly Kíli rode up to us.
"You didn't even have fifteen pieces of silver," he says.
"I guess that's our answer, no person shall ever know what Martha means," Laura exclaimed. I smile.
"Uhh, maybe," I say in answer to his question. He narrows his eyes at me.
"I'll get you later," I hear him say under his breath. Shiznit, I'm dead.