Chapter Text
The morning sky had begun to lighten in various hues of blue, but the sun had yet to rise. Jenn could tell when she woke that dawn would soon be on its way. The young Ranger sat up and stretched, unable to keep a smile off her face when she noticed that Fili and Kili had taken spots on the floor near her. Not wanting to wake them or anyone else, Jenn picked up her boots from the floor and quietly made her way to the foyer to gather her things. The front door opened with a slight groan but she managed to slip out onto the front step and close it without much further disturbance.
The view from Bilbo’s front porch was breathtaking. It was like watching the world begin to stir and start a new day. The lush green landscape blew softly in the gentle morning breeze and the birds were beginning to chirp at the oncoming dawn. The perfect way to start an adventure.
The blonde continued taking in the atmosphere as she carried her pack and weapons down the path that led away from Bag End and down and across the hills towards the stables.
Merida was already happily nibbling on a bucket of oats when Jenn came to her stall. “Breakfast already?” Jenn teased as she pet her friend’s nose. Merida nodded her head and let out a happy snort before continuing to munch on one of her favorite foods. Jenn chuckled and placed her pack on the stable floor before grabbing a brush and running it through Merida’s coat.
When she began saddling the grey mare, she noticed Fili and Kili making their way down the path from Bilbo’s house.
“Gracious you’re up early.” Kili looked at Jenn like he was not entirely awake.
“Not used to early mornings, Kili?” Jenn teased.
“Oh, he is, just doesn’t like ‘em.” Fili elbowed his younger brother jokingly.
“Oi!” The dark-haired dwarf sleepily glared at Fili.
“Where is everyone else?” Jenn asked as she finished adjusting Merida’s reigns.
“They’re comin.” Fili answered, “Thorin wanted us to come down and make sure the ponies were ready.”
“Was Bilbo awake?” Jenn surprised herself for even asking.
“He was sleepin like a rock. Haven’t heard a peep from him.” Fili said as he fed his pony some oats. “Why?”
“Just curious.” Jenn smiled at him as she finished readying Merida.
By the time the rest of the dwarven company came down the Hill it was nearing nine. Jenn was adorning her weapons when Gandalf and a few other dwarves bid her good morning.
As they prepared to leave, Jenn kept looking across the way towards Bag End, hoping that she might see the little hobbit come clamoring down the hillside. She still had her doubts but she knew that if she were in Bilbo’s place, she would have at least wanted a chance. Once everyone was ready, they were off, heading up through the green hills with Thorin in the lead. Jenn noticed the dwarf prince seemed rather closed off for he hadn’t said much but for a few words to Balin and Dwalin.
They had only been riding for a short time, some of the dwarves grumbling about why they had come to the Shire for the hobbit in the first place, when a voice from behind them shouted “Wait!”
The company stopped and turned in surprise to find Bilbo running up with Balin’s contract fluttering about in his hand. “Wait!”
“I don’t believe it.” Dwalin muttered just as shocked to see that Bilbo had caught up to them and had bothered to come at all.
“I signed it!” Bilbo said gleefully out of breath as he slowed down to hand the contract to Balin.
Balin looked at the hobbit cheekily, glad that the hobbit had decided to come. The white-haired dwarf pulled out his monocle to observe Bilbo's signature, agreeing that it was legitimate. “Everything appears to be in order.” Balin concluded as he folded up the contract, “Welcome Master Baggins, to the Company of Thorin Oakenshield.” He gave the hobbit a cherry wink.
A smile spread across Bilbo’s face, rather happy at taking his first big step into the blue.
“Give him a pony.” Thorin said gruffly before turning his own forward to continue down the road.
“No no! That won’t be necessary.” Bilbo assured, “Thank you. I’m sure I can keep up on foot. I…I’ve done my fair share of walking holidays, you know. Even got as far as Frogmorton once.” The hobbit let out a little yelp as Fili and Kili passed between him, picking him up and placing him on the spare pony named Myrtle.
***
Bilbo was rather uncomfortable. Hobbits did not ride ponies often for they mostly walked everywhere. Not that he didn’t like Myrtle, she seemed to be a rather fine creature but the hobbit was sneezing constantly and Blast! he thought. The poor hobbit had forgotten his pocket-handkerchief. This was going to be a very miserable adventure.
As they rode on Bilbo finally started to adapt to riding his pony and was so caught up in the scenery that he jumped when he saw a coin purse fly past his head.
“What’s that about?”
“They took wagers on whether or not you’d turn up.” Gandalf replied as he rode along beside the hobbit. “Most of them bet that you wouldn’t.”
“And what did you think?” Bilbo asked.
Suddenly the coin purse once again flew towards them, Gandalf catching it in his hand. The old Wizard chuckled, bouncing the purse in his hand. “My dear fellow, I never doubted you for a second.”
As Gandalf moved forward to take the lead, Jenn moved Meida up beside the hobbit. “Hello Bilbo.” she greeted.
“Oh! Good morning.” Bilbo replied, amazed that the Ranger would want to speak to him.
“Thank you for hosting us last night. I’m sure it was rather unexpected.”
“That would be an understatement.” Bilbo replied, chuckling nervously.
Jenn couldn’t help but smile. “I’m glad you’re here Bilbo.”
“You are? Um….T..thank you.” Bilbo stuttered, relieved that someone aside from Gandalf was genuinely glad of his company. “You’re Jenn, yes? And forgive me, but you are actually a Ranger? A wanderer?”
“Right on all accounts.” Jenn grinned at the hobbit.
“I’ve never met a Ranger before, well not since I was very young. I’m afraid I don’t really remember.” Bilbo looked back at Jenn. “I believe it was the Fell Winter or something like that.”
“You must have been very young.” Jenn said as she tried to recall the stories she had been told about that terrible season many years ago.
“Indeed.” Bilbo tried to jog his memory.
“The Fell Winter? What’s that?” Fili asked as he rode behind Jenn and Bilbo.
“It was a harsh winter many years ago when orcs and wolves from the mountains crossed over the Brandywine River and into the Shire. Some of the Shire folk were attacked but most of the problems came from a food shortage since trade routes were blocked by ice and snow. Gandalf and some of my kin came down from the North and provided protection, trying to prevent the hobbits from starving.”
“Very noble of you.” Fili replied as he listened with his brother.
“Were you among your kinsmen during that time?” Bilbo asked Jenn as his pony flicked its hair back from its eyes.
“No. I wasn’t even alive then. But my father told me stories about it. When we camp tonight you should ask Gandalf. I’m sure there are a few he could tell.” Jenn’s remarks about Gandalf’s storytelling perked the ears of those riding around them. They all loved a good story.
“Are you telling wild tales about me, my dear?” Gandalf called from the front.
“Only the wildest Gandalf! I’m merely promoting you to Master Storyteller on this journey!” Jenn called back. That brought deep chuckles down the line of dwarves, satisfied that other than Balin, Gandalf would no doubt be a very good one.
***
And a great many tales did Gandalf tell that night around the fire. Some about the Fell Winter and some about other adventures he’d had across Middle-Earth. After the Wizard had finished and moved to take his turn on watch, Bilbo got up from his place around the fire and came over to where Jenn was sitting.
“May I join you?” The hobbit asked as Jenn was sharpening one of her daggers.
“Of course.” She smiled at the sandy haired hobbit.
After a few moments of quiet between the two of them, Bilbo asked, “Jenn? Forgive me. Um... I couldn’t help but remember what you said earlier about the Fell Winter and how you weren’t alive then. I was wondering, uh…how old are you exactly? That is if you don’t mind me asking.” Bilbo was trying very hard not to be impolite, she just seemed so young and yet somehow beyond her years.
“I’m thirty years old. By the standards of Men anyway.” Jenn smiled at the hobbit not offended in the least.
Bilbo blinked, he’d have thought she was younger. “Really? I…uh…sorry. Thirty?”
Jenn let out a laugh. “Yes Bilbo. Thirty.”
“Seems awfully young to be goin on a quest like this.” Dori spoke up from nearby.
“For a dwarf perhaps, but not for a daughter of Men.” The ranger replied as she polished her dagger with her cloak.
“The lass can handle herself, Dori. Don’t you fret.” Dwalin spoke up from his place next to Thorin on the far side of the campfire.
“I’m not fretting about anything!” Dori replied defensively.
“Aye, you are Dori.” Nori ribbed his brother a bit.
As the brothers began arguing, Ori moved closer to Bilbo and Jenn with his notebook in hand.
“So, is it true that you can live for a really long time?” Bilbo asked his next burning question.
“Depends on how you define a long time. I’m not immortal, I can fall to illness and I will die eventually. But as a Dúnedain my lifespan is, possibly, longer than the average of that of normal Men. I believe the longest lifespan of a Dúnedain was three hundred years? So, as you can see Master Baggins, I may look young, but really I’m just at the beginning of my prime.” Jenn answered, amused by Bilbo’s curiosity.
The Ranger had finished with her dagger returning it to her boot and pulling her knees up to her chest when Ori decided he felt brave enough to ask a question. “Um…Miss Jenn…are there any other women Rangers? I bet they aren’t as lovely as you are.”
Thorin, who had been listening to most of the conversation, looked up in time to see Jenn’s face flush pink as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
“Thank you Ori, that’s very kind of you. There are few women who are Rangers. It isn’t a life chosen by many. It takes discipline and skill, but those that are, are some of the fiercest warriors I’ve ever known. Actually, I…” Jenn paused, her words dissolving as a realization hit her, her face falling from its merrier state.
“Jenn?” Bilbo asked the Ranger who was suddenly lost in her own thoughts.
The hobbit’s voice brought her back and she shook her head, “Forgive me. I um…I just realized that…I am the only woman Ranger left.” It hurt Jenn more than she realized, as it brought up memories of El and the thought of just how quickly her people’s numbers had dwindled due to the evil that pursued them. “Excuse me.” The Ranger said as she got up from around the fire and walked over to sit near Gandalf on the outskirts of the camp.
Ori watched Jenn go, his face distressed at having upset her. He wanted to apologize and was about to do so when Dwalin stopped him. “Let her be, laddie. She’ll come around.”
Ori nodded and went to sit with his brothers as Bilbo continued to look at the silhouette of the Ranger. To him she had seemed to handle her realization rather well considering. Though considering what exactly, the hobbit wasn’t sure. The Rangers were mostly a bedtime story to him. They were part of the Big World and whatever went on out there was unknown to him. Well he would know now he supposed; going on this adventure. As the fire started to die down, the hobbit snuggled up in his bedroll and tried to get some sleep, for he knew they would be up at first light and continuing on their way to the Lonely Mountain.