Journey to Middle Earth // Thorin Oakenshield

Chapter 4

When Sara roused the next morning, she discovered that she wasn't the first one up. Most of the dwarves were already up and packing up silently. She hadn't woken to their noise because they were doing it quietly. Surprisingly, though true. Adjusting her cloak which had shifted in her sleep, she got to her feet and felt her head. Her hair had stayed in rather well so she saw no need to change it.

She quickly located her knapsack, ensured that everything was in there before swinging it on her back. She soon discovered that there was no one in the kitchen except Mason and Gandalf who were stoking the fire.

Mason perked up at the sight of his owner and scurried over to her. Sara bent down and scooped the pup up in her arms while smiling at Gandalf.

"How did you sleep?" he inquired

Sara shrugged, "Okay I guess."

"Lot on your mind?" the wizard inquired, sensing her discomfort.

Sara nodded, "It's just so strange.... before coming here I would have died to be on this journey.... meeting the dwarves, Bilbo, THorin....but now.... I never dreamt that actually being in the story wouldn't be a piece of cake."

Gandalf smiled, "Life has that affect on us. When we think we know what is going to happen... it sometimes doesn't go that way."

Sara nodded in agreement and the wizard sensed that she was frustrated, "Thorin isnt what you thought he would be is he?"

Sara shook her head firmly, "Before I came here...I had a whole perspective up about him just from hearing the stories and knowing what happens....He was stubborn and hard at first yes but never almost....dark and foreboding."

"What was your first perspective of him before you met him in person?" Gandalf asked.

Sara shrugged, "A good leader, thoughtful, stubborn, quiet but accepting....He's not that at all."

Gandalf smiled, "Well. He is still what you thought him to be, its just different because you're experiencing the journey for yourself, not just hearing about it."

"I suppose so," Sara sighed, "But... it's weird. As a teenager I was a huge fan of his! Like.... maybe a little over the top. My brothers even thought it would be amazing to be part of the journey and now that I am... it's like I met a whole different person that who was in the stories back home."

The wizard chuckled and reaching over, he patted the girl on her shoulder, "Just remember, don't judge a book by it's cover."

Sara nodded and snuggled Mason to her chest. The wizard left her there a moment while she pondered his words. Little did she know that a pair of piercing blue eyes were watching her from the shadows. Sara turned and headed through the doorway, off to the front door. She completely missed seeing THorin standing in the shadows.

THorin furrowed his brow in concentration. What were they talking about? Sara spoke as if she had met him before.... or seen him before.... and what Gandalf said about the stories....it was like Sara knew something....she had a secret and he was determined to find out what it was.

TIME SKIP

Fili and Kili glanced over their ponies' backs as Sara began to saddle her pony. There was a wisp of hair in her face that she kept pushing away but it kept falling over one eye, aggravating her. She finished saddling the pony and gathered the reins at the saddle.

Kili stole around his pony and approached the girl, "Need a hand?"

Sara looked at him and smiled. he probably thought that she had no idea how to ride, "Thank you Kili, but I got it."