Gold and Sapphires

10

The following day, as the company continued their journey, it became evident that the Dwarves, namely Kili, Fili and Ori were desperate to know the tale or myth that Bilbo had mentioned the previous night as they kept pestering Ethíniel to tell them as rain poured down on them. "Here, Mr. Gandalf, can't you do something about this deluge?" Dori called out to the front of the group, to Gandalf who was leading them, "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 replied, looking around the wet scenery.

"Are there any?" Bilbo inquired sassily earning a very loud groan from Ethíniel, "What?" Gandalf inquired confused, "Other Wizards." Bilbo completed, "There are five of us. The greatest of our order is Saruman the White. Then there are the two Blue Wizards. Do you know, I've quite forgotten their names." Gandalf replied, trying to think back to his old friends and brothers. "And who is the fifth?" Bilbo and Niel inquired simultaneously, Ethíniel louder since she was at the back. "Well, that would be Radagast the Brown." The wizard replied.

"Is he a great Wizard? Or is he more like you?" Bilbo sassed once more, "Bilbo Baggins where are your manners?!" Ethíniel shouted from the back of the group, "I think he's a very great Wizard, in his own way. He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals to others. He keeps a watchful eye over the vast forest lands to the east. And a good thing too.For always evil will look to find a foothold in this world." Gandalf replied, ignoring Bilbo's comment.

Ethíniel had, of course, met Radagast, she'd met him, Saruman and the two blues shortly after the fall of Sauron, shortly before she closed her kingdom, he was an interesting fellow, continuously asking questions about her dragons, their needs, their diets, her kingdom all of which Ethíniel replied with much happiness, she had even showed him the marks that adorn her arms and talked about them, how she was young and innocent then.

Finally after a long day of riding, teasing, laughing and being chastised by Ethíniel, the company arrived at a seemingly abandoned house and land, perfect to spend the one night before resuming their journey, "We'll camp here for the night. Fili, Kili, look after the ponies. Make sure you stay with them." Thorin ordered once they came to a halt and began to step down from their ponies, "Are you getting off your pony?" Bilbo innocently inquired to the blonde woman.

"No." she replied, her eyes glancing around, her hands firmly grabbing the reigns of the horse, "Why not?" Bilbo frowned, but he got no answer, at least not directed at him "I know a farmer, not far from here, he'd give us shelter."  Thorin and Gandalf looked at her from the destroyed house while the dwarves halted their actions, "He'd provide us with food to last us a good while."

"We have food and we have shelter." Thorin barked from inside the ruins, his sapphire eyes glaring at her, "Sure, but do we have enough." she rebutted, her eyes locking on the wizard who was nodding at her, understanding that she felt the same uneasiness that he did, "Let me travel to him if you won't, let me bring back enough food for us." she tried to reason and successfully it would seem as the King under the mountain gritted his teeth and nodded.

"Niel?" Bilbo whimpered, "Worry not, I'll come back." she told him with a sweet smile that soothed him completely, the same smile she used to give him whenever he used to come back home after dark, treading mud and leaves all over the carpets.

Gandalf had, meanwhile, come out of the ruined house with annoyed features causing the hobbit to question "Everything all right? Gandalf, where are you going?" as the wizard hoisted himself onto his horse with ease, "To seek the company of the only two around here who's got any sense." the wizard snapped, "And who are those?" Bilbo frowned, knowing, however, the answer, "Myself and Niel, Mr. Baggins." Gandalf stated before riding off, Niel not far after him.