His Fire

A Slight Problem

I just finish the drawing of Fili when Bilbo comes and sits by me. I don't even look up.

"Hey, Bilbo." I say as I close the book and put it away in my saddlebag.

I can feel him smiling and shaking his head in disbelief.

"Hey, Thea. What were you drawing?"

"I was just doodling. Why?"

"I dunno. It just looked like Fili, so I wondered."

Oh shit, he saw!

"Oh, yeah. Um.... I've been kinda thinking about drawing the whole Company. As a, you know, a- a- a- a memoir or something."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I know, it's a stupid idea-"

"Actually, I think it's pretty genius."

"You really think so?"

"Yes. May I see it?"

"Uh, yeah. Sure."

I pull my sketch book out once again. I flip to the page where I drew Fili's face.

I have to admit, it looks pretty good. I colored it in after drawing it with pencil, so it looks really realistic.

I look at Bilbo to see his face, and it's a mixture of a whole bunch of emotions, that I can't tell if he thinks it's good or bad.

"Is it that bad?" I ask, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

He looks at me and SMILES.

"'Bad'?!" he exclaims. "My God, Thea, it's amazing! So full of detail! It's fantastic!"

I blush at his comment and tuck my bangs behind my ear (I'm sorry, I forgot to say I have bangs. They're a little longer than my jawline and are always on the right side of my face).

"Thank you, Bilbo. That's means a lot." I say as I put the book away, then stand up to go over to the fire pit and food.

We go over to the pot of food, which Bofer is stiring the contents around.

"Is it ready?" he asks me as he hands the spoon.

I take it, scoop out a little bit of the stew, and put it in my mouth.

"It's ready." I nod. "You can help the lads serve themselves."

He nods. "Bilbo, take these to Fili and Kili, will ya?" Bofor asks Bilbo, after dishing out two bowls.

Bilbo nods. He takes the bowls and start to walk in the forest where Fili and Kili are. I go with him, I want to see Fili.

"Thea," Bilbo says before we make it to the lads. "Thorin only gave you the contract when you said that you're known as the Fire Warrior of the West. Why?"

I take a second to think about that before deciding to answer his question.

"My reputation continues to proceed me." I say.

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, the reason why I'm known as that, is because of a village I saved. Orc packs were attacking the people and killing them in the streets.

"I was passing through on another quest. But, when I saw the Orcs, it made me so livid that I was literally on fire. I ran into the village, sword drawn, and immediately, I started to attack the Orcs.

"As soon as my sword touched them, they turned to flames and disappeared into clumps of ash. I didn't stop until I had killed every last Orc.

"The villagers pronounced me, 'The Fire Warrior of the West'. And they called me the greatest heroine who ever lived. And...... well,....... you know how people are. They spread news and pretty soon, everyone called me that once they saw me.

"And that's how Thorin knew who I was."

"Hmmm. I've heard stories of the Fire Warrior, but I just assumed that it was just stories."

"Well, now you know, don't you?"

We walk up to Fili and Kili, who are just standing there, staring at the ponies. I go to stand beside Fili,

"Kili? Fili?" I ask them.

They don't say anything, they just stay frozen.

"Guys, what's wrong?" I continue, starting to worry.

"We're supposed to watch the ponies." Kili tells us, still not looking at me.

"Only, we've come to a slight problem." says Fili, who actually looks at me.

Fili takes my hand and squeezes it, worriedly, but keeps our hands hidden.

Why is he so worried? What's wrong?

"We had sixteen....." Kili starts and Fili finishes.

"Now, we have fourteen."