Emerge the Dragonborn | The Hobbit

Chapter 5 - Home Is Behind

Anaynah stirred, slowly drifting out of sleep, she felt a gentle touch on her shoulder. Her brown eyes gradually fluttered open, and she saw a familiar face looking down at her.
Kili gazed down at her frame as she blinked the sleep out.

"Forgive me for waking you, Anaynah. But we are getting ready to leave." Said the young prince as he slowly removed his hand from her shoulder, brushing her skin down her arm.

The soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. The distant sound of birds chirping outside, and the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze confirmed that it was indeed morning.

Time for the adventure to begin.

The Dwarves were quick to get ready as they knew their journey ahead was long.

And so they set out from Hobbiton, making their way to the outskirts of The Shire.

The company rode atop their horses, well, ponies in the Dwarf's case as they were not physically tall enough to ride a full-grown horse.

The Ranger had not spent much time in The Shire. Bree she had been a few times, but Hobbiton was truly an untouched corner of the world. The rolling hills of green, the gardens of vegetation, and the songs of the birds were all a wonderous sight to behold. She could see why Bilbo did not want to leave.

Anaynah was dishearted at the fact Bilbohad not joined them. The company had been complaining nonstop about how this trip to The Shire was naught but a waste of time.
But hope remained in her heart. She seemed to be getting a soft spot for the halfling, his innocence truly mindblowing.

"Do not lose heart, dear Anaynah. He will come." The Wizard spoke as he trotted up next to her.

"I do not doubt that. If anything, there is a part of me that prays he chooses not to." It was true. Anaynah felt sorrow for the Hobbit. She did not like to be grim, but the odds of the success of the quest were always slim, and she did not want Bilbo needlessly joining them on a doomed venture.

"You would do well to not have such thoughts. If you believe the quest is all for naught then it has failed before it has even started." Gandalf scolded the Ranger. Anaynah looked down in guilt. He noticed her remorse and tried to lift her spirits.
"Well, if you do not doubt the Hobbit's intentions, why not make it known?" with a mischievous smile, Gandalf raised a pouch of coins and jiggled it in front of her face making them clink.

Anayanh looked around to see the Dwarves making all kinds of bets, as to whether Bilbo would turn up or not.
Anaynah smirked.

"Gloin!" Anayah called out to the red-haired Dwarf riding near her who snapped his head to her way, "60 coins says the Hobbit shall turn up."

Gloin thought for a second about the steep price before letting out a grunt of agreement.

"Aye, I'll match your odds, lass!"

"As shall I!" Nori called out from a few paces behind them.

Anaynah chuckled as bets continued to be made all around them. Gandalf turned to her and gave a playful wink to which she smiled widely as he trotted off to the front of the line.

Anaynah would soon be 120 coins richer as a voice called out in the distance.

"Wait!"

Anaynahs eyes perked up.

"Wait!"

The entire company now had halted their horses and ponies, turning them to see a little figure jogging up to them.