The Journey Of Eleanor Baggins (Dwalin LS)

~ Chapter 17 ~

The company watch on in shock as the once cat turned tiger transformed into a young blonde women, Bilbo ran over to his sister along with Gandalf and Balin, the trio concerned for their shifter. The rest of the company were unsure what was going on, or how to even process what they have just witnessed.

Dwalin was not one to feel much emotion or to even show his emotions but his heart was racing with worry for the girl/cat, something inside the dwarf was making him feel on edge. All Dwalin wanted to do is wrap his arms around the girl/cat and never let go, his heart hurt just looking at the unconscious girl/cat in front of him and the company.

Dwalin made a move towards his brother, Gandalf and the hobbit, he slowly eyed the young girl in front of him, his breath caught in his throat, Eleanor was positively stunning. Feeling eyes on him, Dwalin looks to see his brother smirking at him, causing the younger brother to turn away, heat raising to his cheeks. Dwalin could not believe it, he was blushing, letting out a shuttered breath Dwalin ran his strong hands over his face. The bald dwarf was not sure how much he or the company could take in that moment, they have fought and nearly been roasted by trolls, have had a visit from a crazy wizard, then to be attacked and chased by ocrs and wargs and last but not least the cat he had cuddled up with a few nights ago was actually a women.

Thorin finally snaps out of his state of shock, rushes over to the group surrounding Eleanor "What in the Durin's name Gandalf?" He shouts out, looking at the young women on the ground to the wizard "You better start talking wizard" Thorin growled out.

Balin places his hand on Thorin's arms, only for the would be king to shake the hand off him "Now, now Thorin" Balin calmly says to his king. Thorin looks to his oldest friend "We can argue about this later, right now we need to find a way out and find the lass some help"

Thorin takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself down but it just wasn't happening, he just wanted to understand. Thorin needed to know what he had agreed to bring on the journey, when he gave Bilbo permission to bring his house cat "No" He growled out, glaring at Balin before turning back to Gandalf "My company is on the line right now, I want to know what it is" Thorin ordered, nodding his head towards Eleanor.

Bilbo frowns at Thorin's words, his sister was not a it. He gently strokes her hair and places a kiss on her forehead, letting out a breath Bilbo stands up "My sister is not a IT" He pipes up, Bilbo may be a shy fellow when it comes to speaking to the king but he was defending his sister and to Bilbo his sister was his life. The company stare at the hobbit, to them Bilbo was finally showing them his true colours and all it took for them to see this side of him was through his sister "Her name is Eleanor Baggins and you will treat her with respect" Bilbo rants on breathing heavily "She just saved your companies lives, even though she knew it was a risk to expose herself to you" Bilbo pauses to look at his sister, then turns his attention back to Thorin "She just exposed herself to the orc's, the very creatures that are the reason why she had to grow up without her parents and her kin"

"Bilbo" A small voice spoke up, everyone turned their attention to the young lass. They had a clear view of Eleanor now that the shifter head was raised as she tried to sit up. Bilbo notices his sister struggling and rushes over to her, tears fell from the hobbit's eyes, Eleanor sees this and sends her brother a gentle smile "Hey, there" She whispers, raising her hand to wipe the tears away, her eyes search his face "I'm ok brother" She breathed out. Eleanor slowly wraps her arms around her brother "Nothing will take me away from you my dear Bilbo" She says in his neck, pulling away the young shifter kisses her brother cheek.

"We are glad to see your alright lass" Balin comments, earning a grateful smile from Eleanor, to be honest she was glad to be ok, the whole situation was terrifying for her, she really didn't want to experience it again but Eleanor knew in her bones that this was just the beginning.