Chapter Text
Thorin and Gandalf had argued again, their voices rising in frustration. She wasn’t sure what had sparked the dispute, nor did she want to know. Typical of them, really. With a huff, Gandalf rode off into the fading light, leaving the camp in an uneasy silence.
As she dismounted Myrtle, a shiver ran down her spine. Something was wrong. Her feet tingled—an ominous sign that prickled at her instincts. She grabbed her saddlebag and patted Myrtle gently before making her way over to a large, moss-covered rock. No one stopped her; they were too wrapped up in their own bickering to notice her slip away.
Whenever they set up camp for the night, she always sought a bit of solitude, a moment to breathe away from the clamor of the dwarves. Close enough to hear their shouts and laughter, yet far enough to find a semblance of peace. She placed her belongings on the rock and kicked off her boots, sighing in relief. Hobbits universally despised boots, a necessary nuisance when traveling beyond the Shire. Only the fauntlings could roam freely, their little feet unburdened by the heavy leather.
Burying her furry toes in the cool earth, she closed her eyes and opened her senses to the world around her. Almost immediately, she felt it—a dark, unsettling presence thrumming beneath the surface. Three things. All distinctly foul.
Trolls.
A knot of anxiety twisted in her stomach. She had dealt with trolls before, of course, but those encounters had come with plenty of weapons and trustworthy allies at her side. Now, she couldn’t count on these infuriating dwarves. They were brave, but she sensed their inexperience. If it came to a fight, would they even listen to her warning?
She took a deep breath, centering herself. This was no time to panic. With a steadying resolve, she rose from the rock, her mind racing. She needed to find a way to alert the others without inciting a panic. Maybe, just maybe, she could turn this encounter into a chance to prove her worth to the dwarves. If they survived the night, perhaps they’d finally see her as more than just a hobbit.
She glanced back at the camp, where Thorin’s voice boomed across the clearing. “We need to be ready for anything!” he shouted, his brow furrowed in determination. She smirked slightly at the irony. Little did he know, something was already lurking in the shadows.