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You were laying on the back of your large black point dun gelding, using his neck as a back rest so you could look up at the sky, when Bilbo caught up to the company. A wide smile spread across your face and you slipped from your high perch to greet him with a question, “You’ve decided to join us?”

He nodded, still trying to catch his breath, and you swept him into a hug as you exclaimed, “Fantastic!”

He was unsure of how to respond to your sudden affection but it didn’t matter as you quickly released him to give a wicked grin to the company of dwarves behind you, “Pay up!”

There were a number of coins tossed in your direction as Gandalf chuckled and Bilbo gawked, “You wagered on whether or not I would come?”

You offered him a grin and a wink, “I had faith you would join us before the day was out and they did not.”

Thorin waved a hand, “Give him a pony.”

He protested that he could walk and you offered, “Blossom could easily carry us both if you’d like to ride with me, Mr. Baggins.”

He shook his head and found himself lifted onto a shaggy pony as you shrugged “Suit yourself.”

The company was already moving out, leaving you and Blossom behind but certainly not for long as you gracefully swung yourself back to where you had been and then set off at a trot to place yourself next Bilbo with Gandalf on his other side.

Gandalf offered you a smile before looking to Bilbo, “(F/n) and I never doubted you for a second my dear fellow.”

He looked from Gandalf to you and you grinned at him from your place balanced cross-legged on Blossom’s back, he wondered how you ended up with this company and was about to ask you when Bofur called your name. You shouted back, “Coming!” before urging your horse forward to see what he wanted and, more importantly, steal his hat.

Bilbo watched you go with curiosity filled eyes and Gandalf noticed, “She’s quite something, wouldn’t you agree?”

Bilbo nodded, “You have something to do with her being here don’t you?”

Gandalf smiled as you leapt to stand up on the back of your horse to keep the hat on your head away from its owner, “(F/n) is here because I am here, as an apprentice should be.”

Bilbo turned to look at the wizard, “Apprentice?”

Gandalf gave a secretive smile as he nodded, “Like you there is far more to her than meets the eye.”

Bilbo’s eyes found you again, you had paused your antics, still standing balanced on Blossom’s back, to look out over the horizon with a thoughtful look on your face. You plopped the hat back on Bofur’s head as you sank to sit cross-legged again with a grin and Bilbo wondered what you were thinking.

It wasn’t until they stopped for the night that he got to speak to you again. He was sneaking his pony, Myrtle, an apple when a soft giggle erupted behind him, he turned to find you, your face lit by the silvery light of the moon. You pressed a finger to your lips and handed him a carrot before returning to your task: braiding Blossom’s soft black mane from atop the rock he was standing by.

He gave Myrtle the carrot and then hopped up to sit next to you, admiring the complex network of braids you had created before turning to admire something entirely different. The light of the moon suited you, making your features more striking and catching in your hair to give you a sort of halo.

Letting the braid you were working on fall from your hands, you turned to offer him a soft smile, quietly inquiring, “Can’t sleep?”

He shook his head, “What about you?”

You sighed happily, “I like the night. The stars and the moon. It seems such a waste to sleep through something so beautiful.”

He looked up at the large round full moon, “I suppose you’re right.”

He caught you giving a small yawn before you folded your arms behind your head to look up at the sky, tugging at his sleeve for him to join you. When he did you began pointing out constellations in the night sky to him, telling him the tales behind each one, as he listened and asked questions every so often.

He had nearly fallen asleep to the soft sound of your voice when a shrieking from below had you both bolting up from your place on the rock. You went in the opposite direction of him as he bounced toward the fire and you went to the furthest pony, eyes scanning the space beyond it for any sign of orcs as you fingered the hilt of one of your concealed daggers.

You hushed the ponies, pulling them closer to your group and you and Gadfalf's two large horses before returning to the fire in time to hear Fili and Kili trying to scare Bilbo. They saw your approach, a smirk crossing Kili’s face, and he nudged his brother just as you placed a hand on Bilbo’s shoulder, causing him to jump, and then leaned to whisper, “Don’t let them scare you. We are prepared for the worst should it arise.”

Fili and Kili would have been disappointed that you didn’t use your stealth to spook him if they weren’t already being scolded by Thorin and Gandalf called to you, “(F/n).”

You removed your hand from Bilbo’s shoulder to look to you mentor, silently communicating with him as he gave you a concerned look and you gave him a reassuring but wary nod. This topic hit a little close to home. Bilbo watched the exchange with curiosity and you slunk away toward Blossom as Balin began to tell the story of Thorin Oakenshield and the battle of Moria.

You watched Bilbo and the others listen from your place spread out on Blossom’s wide bare back, your keen ears alert for any foreign sound. You liked the dwarves and you wanted them to succeed, they deserved a home. That was your last thought before you unwittingly drifted off to sleep.

The next day was rainy and despite grumbling from the dwarves, your spirits were unbelievably high. Gandalf gave a small knowing smile as you let the rain completely soak you with a series of secretive giggles, hopping off Blossom to disappear into the wooded area near by only to pop up a bit later to throw yourself back on his back.

It wasn’t until you were good and drenched and slightly exhausted from your little excursions that you threw your cloak over your shoulders and urged Blossom to catch up to Gandalf and Bilbo. The hobbit jumped when a heavy but warm weight hit his shoulders and was about to look up when his vision was obscured by a hood, that very effectively blocked out the rain, being pulled up over his head.

He lifted his eyes and found you leaning precariously over to look at him with a grin, wet locks clinging to your cheeks, “You looked rather cold, Bilbo. I hope you don’t mind.”

He offered you a smile, tugging your extra cloak tight around himself, “Not at all. Thank you (F/n).”

You let out a pleased hum, holding your hand out to let the rain gather in it as Gandalf refused a dwarves request to end the it, “It is raining, Master Dwarf, and it will continue to rain until the rain is done.”

You let out a smooth and musical laugh, “Without rain nothing grows, Dori. It is life-bringing weather. Enjoy it.”

Gandalf chuckled before adding, “If you wish to change the weather of the world you should find yourself another wizard.”

Bilbo raised a curious eyebrow at this, “Are there any?”

“Any what?”

“Other wizards.”

Gandalf nodded and set into naming the other four wizards of the five that exist ending with Radagast the Brown. You grinned widely, “Radagast is a fantastic wizard. A little odd I’ll give you that but I like him all the same.”

Gandalf nodded, “Of course you do my dear girl. You share his affinity for the forest and its inhabitants.”

You chuckled, looking to Bilbo, “Yes but I much prefer the company of others to that of animals when given a choice.”

Gandalf gave you a small smirk, “That, my dear, is why you are my apprentice and not his.”

Bilbo looked up at you from under his hood, he knew he had a friend in you but you were still shrouded in so much mystery, so much for him to still discover, and he found himself welcoming the challenge.