Our Departure From Beorn's

The next morning, Gandalf told Beorn our purpose for our journey. He figured Beorn would offer more assistance if he knew the reason. He promised us each a pony to ride and a horse for Gandalf. He let us take his ponies just as long as we let the ponies go when we got to Mirkwood. We were not allowed to take them into the forest. He also gave us food that would last for about four weeks or more. The food was packed so it would be easily carried. He gave us jars of nuts, honey, dried fruits, and a lots of packages of twice-baked cakes. These special cakes were one of Beorn's secret recipes. They were made with honey so it would overpower the "twice-baked" part and they tasted pretty good. He also gave us each a skin to carry water in. He called a meeting so he could tell us what to do and what not to do and answer any questions we had that he was able to answer.

"There is a stream or river in that forest," Beorn explained, "People from all around say it's enchanted. You can tell it is different from other water sources. Its appearance can tell you to stay away. The color of the water is black; so beware and do not touch, drink, walk, or swim in it."

"What would happen if we accidentally fell in or something like that?" Bilbo asked.

"No one knows what will happen if you touch it but I don't think you want to take that chance," Beorn advised, "You also must not, under any circumstance, stray off the path. I don't know everything that lies in that forest. But if you did leave the path, I'm almost certain you wouldn't find it again." When we finished our meeting with him, we feasted the rest of the day until late at night. The next day, we thanked him for his kindness towards us.

The dwarves bowed and swept their hoods many times while saying: 

"At your service, O master of the wide wooden halls!" 

I, in my opinion, think the dwarves didn't need to go that far. But in the end, we were all sad to leave such a comforting house. The whole day they were worried about the danger that was at hand. During our entire stay, I had been preparing myself for what I knew would happen. The next morning, I treated and groomed the ponies before our expedition to Mirkwood. Everyone put the bags outside on Beorn's front porch for me to load while they talked to Beorn. Soon after noon passed, we ate with Beorn for the last time and after the meal, we mounted our steeds and bid Beorn farewell. We rode through his front gate and onward towards Mirkwood.