Unexpected

Chapter 3: Ponies

The Company travelled for a couple days at a time. To Eili's surprise, Gandalf stormed off after having a chat with her uncle. He had a reputation for infuriating people, but it took talent to lose Gandalf's patience. It was late evening and Thorin had finally decided to set up for the night. Fili, Kili, and Eili were in charge of watching the ponies.

"I was really hoping that Gandalf would recruit another girl for The Company." Kili sighed. The siblings sat on fallen tree trunks, glancing up every now and then to check the ponies.

Fili shook his head. "That is not the task at hand, brother. We are on this quest to reclaim our homeland. You can settle down after we've done so." Kili looked down as if disappointed.

Eili put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry brother, you will find someone who deserves you."

"Thanks Eili." Kili rustled her hair. "You're not doing too bad yourself in the 'love department.'" He smiled mischievously.

"What are you talking about?"

He loved to tease her, especially when it came to the particular topic of love. "You've got someone who fancies you. Don't act like a fool."

"No one fancies me! And I am no fool!"

"Then why are you turning red?" Fili asked.

"Not you too Fili!" Eili brought her hands to her face. She was burning.

"No no, Fili she's right. You're right Eili." Kili spoke up.

Eili crossed my arms. "Thank you." She huffed.

"What I meant to say was there's someone who you fancy." Kili smirked.

She choked. "You're ridiculous! I don't know what you're talking about."

Fili gave a quizzical look. "Not even the hobbit?"

"Not even me what?" A voice called out.

Eili froze. The voice belonged to Bilbo. She quickly turned to see him standing with three bowls of stew. "How long have you been standing there?"

He looked at her with a quirky expression. "I only just got here. Why?"

"Do not fret, I was just curious. Thank you very much for the stew Master Baggins. I'm just going to check on the ponies." The young dwarf gestured over her shoulder.

He tilted his head to the side confusedly. Fili and Kili could be heard laughing behind her. Eili's face become warmer and warmer. She walked to the pony pen and stared at the creatures inside. One, two, three, four, fi- Wait. Daisy and Bungo. Where were they?

Rustles and faint whispers could be heard ahead. The least Eili could do was check it out. Although her brothers wouldn't approve, she had to learn to do things one her own and make her own decisions.

Eili kept her hand on her dagger sheath, in case she should need it. As the young dwarf slowly approached the sound, a flickering light could be seen. It was a fire, and around it sat two trolls. They were horrid creatures to look at. She moved from the tree she hid behind to a boulder. As Eili crept closer to them, the earth began to shake.

"Are you bloody- another?!" Talking to herself was not the safest habit in this situation. Another troll trudged towards the fire, a pony under each arm. "Myrtle and Minty!" The dwarf whispered to herself. Eili heard sudden panting behind her.

"Master Baggins? What are you doing?!"

"As your burglar, your brothers sent me. And please, call me Bilbo." Eili nodded. She peeked over the boulder. The troll had trapped the ponies within a wooden gate. They were cooking some sort of stew over their fire. One of the trolls stopped stirring and looked up. The dwarf quickly ducked, pulling Bilbo down with her. "Not a word." She put a finger to her lips. He nodded. The troll stomped towards them. He stood over the duo. Bilbo and Eili huddled together. The hobbit held his breath and at this point, Eili wasn't even sure she was breathing. She shut my eyes tightly.

"What 'er you doin'?" A loud voice called. Eili was sure it was the 'leader' of the other trolls.

"Thought I 'eard somethin'." The troll above them said.

"Sit down!" The leader called loudly.

It hung its head and trudge back to the fire. Eili glanced over the boulder ever so slightly and sunk back down. The duo sighed in relief. The dwarf's heart was pounding. She closed her eyes and tried to relax. Eili was certain her brothers would kill her if they saw that her and Bilbo were almost captured. She didn't even want to think of how her uncle would react. This was not relaxing at all.
Eili opened her eyes again. Bilbo was gone!

"Where in the name of Durin is that hobbit?!" She frantically looked around for him. Her eyes widened at his sight. The hobbit was behind one of the trolls, trying to steal the curved knife on its belt. It sneezed and reached for its handkerchief. Instead, it held something else. It held Bilbo.