I knew that the dwarves were going to take the Old Forest Road to pass through Mirkwood which meant that they would soon reach the Old Ford. However, this was assuming that they hadn't run into any complications. Assuming Gandalf was with them, no such complications would prove too troublesome for the company.

I had yet to encounter a single trail left behind by the company and I was beginning to grow worried. I had just reached the other side of the misty mountains yet there was no sign of the company I was in pursuit of. Perhaps they had run into more trouble than I had expected. The same couldn't be said for myself as I hadn't encountered a single person or fiend on my journey. Aurêl had been as brave and obedient as I had expected from an Elven horse. Unfortunately my journey had gone so well that I found myself growing tired and uninterested. The excitement of adventure hadn't been what I expected it to be like.

***

"How close is the pack?" Dwalin asked worriedly.

"Too close. A couple of leagues, no more, but that is not the worst of it," responded Bilbo. The conversation carried on.

"Have the Wargs picked up our scent?"

"Not yet, but they will; we have another problem."

"Did they see you? They saw you!" Gandalf said sharply, jumping to conclusions.

"No," Bilbo quickly replied but Gandalf had turned to the dwarves before he could finish, "that's not it."

"What did I tell you? Quiet as a mouse. Excellent burglar material." Gandalf said in an attempt to prove that his choice in recruitment was perfectly justified.The dwarves chuckled in response.

"Will you listen- Will you just listen? I'm trying to tell you there is something else out there." Bilbo insisted anxiously.

"What form did it take? Like a bear?" Gandalf asked. He was not as concerned as Bilbo had anticipated.

"Ye..." he paused and looked curiously at Gandalf, "Y- yes. But bigger, much bigger."

***

Many days had passed this way and even as I arrived at the old ford, there had been no sign of my hobbit friend or the dwarves. I decided to carry on, convincing myself that they were covering their tracks to avoid being tracked by the orcs that hunted them. It sounded like a smart move in consideration of the stakes if they failed. I pushed on wondering if I had over-prepared for my task.

***

"

Come on!" Gandalf shouted fearful of their fate, "This way, quickly!"

"Bombur, come on!" Bofur called, shaking Bombur out of his shock

"To the house! Run!" Gandalf directed them to a cottage in the clearing and ushered them through into the front garden, "Come on, get inside!"

"Come on, lads!" Dwalin encouraged as they desperately tried to keep the beast out of the house. With one last heave, they managed to close the doors and bolt them shut.

"What is that?" Ori questioned. The fear was still active in his voice but he was answered by Gandalf nonetheless.

"That...is our host."

***

Finally, I found signs that the company were safe; at the entrance to the Old Forest Road there were many hoofprints and footprints alike and they were left recently, this meant that I would have to leave my companion behind for stealth was key at this point.

"lle caela aut- n'alaquel eska sii', Mellon," I said as I sent him on his way. I untacked him sombrely. We had travelled light so that I wouldn't leave any evidence of my passing or waste valuable equipment. I took off his saddlecloth and stared deeply into his wondrous brown eye as I undid his throat-lash and nose-band and pulled off his bridle. I packed these items into my travel bag for later use. I gave him a last stroke and sent him on his way.

"Namaarie Aurêl."

{"you have to go back home now, friend, farewell Aurêl."

I watched him disappear over the horizon with a smile on my face which soon faded away as I turned to face the path before me. The forest gave off an aura of sickness and sinister intent which raised hairs on the back of my neck. I took a big gulp and stepped forward into the madness.

***

"The Elven Gate," Gandalf stated as he turned to the others, "Here lies our path through Mirkwood."

"No sign of the Orcs. We have luck on our side." Dwalin informed Thorin.

Gandal saw a large black bear on a nearby hilltop which caused him to inform the others, "Set the ponies loose. Let them return to their master."

Bilbo stared into the forest and beyond, peering at the darkness, "This forest feels...sick, as if a disease lies upon it. Is there no way around?"

"Not unless we go two hundred miles north, or twice that distance south." Gandalf replied, his voice stained with regret as he strays further into the forest to inspect the path. He then nodded to himself and muttered words which Bilbo didn't quite catch. However his next words were words Bilbo and the others hoped they wouldn't have to hear, "Not my horse! I need it."

"You're not leaving us?" Bilbo asked with apprehensive fear. The reply was not very soothing.

"I would not do this unless I had to," Gandalf then turned to inspect Bilbo,"You've changed, Bilbo Baggins. You're not the same Hobbit as the one who left the Shire."

Bilbo felt the pressure of being pit on the spot and began to stall, unable to decide what to say, "I was going to tell you; I...found something in the Goblin tunnels."

"Found what?" Gandalf leant over towards Bilbo, "What did you find?"

After a long silence, Bilbo finally gave an answer, "My courage."

"Good. Well, that's good," Gandalf wasn't entirely convinced that Bilbo was telling the truth but he had more important matters to attend to so he didn't press the matter any further, "You'll need it."

"I'll be waiting for you at the overlook, before the slopes of Erebor. Keep the map and key safe. Do not enter that mountain without me."

Gandalf stopped and looked hard at Thorin,  "This is not the Greenwood of old. The very air of the forest is heavy with illusion. It will seek to enter your mind and lead you astray."

"Lead us astray? What does that mean?" Bilbo asked Dwalin feeling the fear set in further.

"You must stay on the path; do not leave it. If you do, you will never find it again," Gandalf warned as he spurred his horse on. He left them with a final warning;

"No matter what may come, stay on the path!"