Chapter 1

A dwarf dam's beauty was measured by a few narrow mindsets – was she plump? Short (compared to her male counterpart)? How did she dress? Was she stout but feminine in her dress? Red hair was preferred, but did she elegantly style her hair? Were her eyes blue? If the answer to all these questions was an affirmative, the dwarf dam was then labeled a great beauty among dwarves, and her hand was greatly coveted by those who wished to marry.

With such strict parameters of beauty, the sight of a dwarf woman that did not fit any of these "rules," but whose beauty could not be denied, quickly drew attention.

Dwarf women were scarce and had always been expected to wear beards amongst non-dwarves for their own safety.

So Canna expected the shocked reactions of those around her as she boldly strode into the newly reclaimed Erebor. She just did not expect the other reactions as well.

"Is she traveling alone? With no beard? And such clothes!"

"She is beautiful…unlike anything I ever seen…"

"Look at her! Is she even fully a dwarf? She's a mixed breed, I know it…"

"Ay, but still a beaut…"

"Looking like herself and traveling with no beard…who is she?"

"Wait! Is that – is that a sword I see? Mahal, she's a warrior!"

Canna pulled up the hood of her cloak and ignored the voices of those around her as she entered Erebor alongside the other newcomers. Every day, dwarves streamed into the great mountain, rejoicing in the death of the dragon and the success of Thorin Oakenshield and his company.

But Canna was not here for that. She had been called by an old friend, nothing more, nothing less.

All newcomers were first summoned to the Hall of Kings. The smooth golden floor echoed under their footsteps as the great hall was slowly filled. Finally, an herald appeared and shouted "King Thorin arrives!"
The few that had sat down in fatigue scrambled to their feet as the king and his entourage appeared. Thorin stood in front of his throne and appeared to survey the newcomers, his gaze calculating.

He certainly was a handsome dwarf, tall and dark and brooding.

Canna kept her hood up and remained hidden by a pillar. She scanned his entourage, noting the two young dwarves on either side of the king. His nephews, Fili and Kili.

When her eyes landed on one particular dwarf amongst Thorin's men, a smile lit her face. She waited.

"I trust your journey here was not too difficult," Thorin began. His deep rumbling voice echoed in the golden hall. "Food and shelter will be provided for all of you. My wish is that you will all prosper here, and lend your skills and talents to the mountain in return. You are safe now. We will protect you."

A collective sigh rose up from the dwarves around her. Canna remained impassive.

"Before we all eat, one of my people will find all of you rooms that will become your home." On cue, two dwarves appeared and ushered the newcomers to an adjacent room. The new dwarves all bowed deeply to the king and left. The hall was suddenly empty, except for Thorin, his men, and Canna who remained hidden.

"So many of our people come back to us every day," one of the dwarves mused.

"Yes," was Thorin's reply.

As they all turned to leave, Canna quickly moved to action. "Oy, you sent a raven to me and asked me to come here, and I don't even get a greeting?" With her hood thrown off and a mischievous grin on her face, Canna strode forwards.

"Who are you?" Thorin demanded to know, before one of his entourage stepped forward with a wide smile.

"Canna!"

"Balin."

It was with great joy that Canna and Balin embraced each other. "My, lassie, look at you! A true warrior if I ever saw one."

Canna smiled. "Ever the flatterer, old one. Now tell me, why did you ask me to come?"

"Can an old dwarf not wish to see if his old friend's daughter is taking care of herself?" the white-bearded dwarf replied. "Now that you are here, there are a few I wish you to meet." With that, he maneuvered the young dwarf maiden to stand before Thorin. "Canna, I give you King Thorin, son of Thrain, Lord Under the Mountain."

Canna gave a slight bow, which caused Thorin's eyebrow to raise. "That is quite a title," said the girl, somewhat cheekily. She could not help it; the glare that seemed stuck to the king's face amused, rather than frightened, her.

"It was hard won," he grunted in reply, his glare even more piercing if possible.

Balin quickly intervened. "Canna is quite a swordswoman, Thorin. It is my thought that, with the need to train so many new warriors, and with all of us being so busy, she could be of some help."

A surprised Canna was about to inject her own opinion when Thorin exclaimed, "A maiden? Training our men? Look at her, Balin. I will not allow this!"

Canna bristled. She was well used to such an outlook, but it never ceased to enrage her. "King Under the Mountain," she spat. "Do not underestimate me, as many others have done before. They have all come to regret it, and you will too. This I swear."

Suddenly Thorin was towering over her. "Are you threatening me?"

"No," she repeated, unfazed as she stared up into his icy grey glare. "I'm promising you."

"Now, now, you two." Balin once again moved himself between the king and the dwarf woman, this time signaling to the other hereby forgotten dwarves to come forward. "Fili, Kili, this is my young friend, Canna."

With matching smiles, the two brothers swept forward, each grasping one of her pale hands and bestowing a kiss upon it. "My lady," Fili murmured with a winning smile.

Canna grinned. "Gallantry will get you nowhere, young princes. The pleasure is mine."

"And this is Bifur, Bofur, Oin, and Nori," Balin introduced, pointing to each dwarf who smiled and bowed. "They were all part of our original group."

"Indeed." Canna bowed once more. "A pleasure."

Thorin was still glaring at her; she could feel his gaze on her. If he was a dragon, he could smote me with his glare alone, Canna thought a bit wryly.

"Come," Balin said with a fond smile. "I will take it upon myself to find you housing. Follow me, now."

Canna smiled at the group of dwarves once more before hoisting her sword on her back once more and striding after the old dwarf. She could still feel a pair of eyes digging into the back of her head; she did not need to guess whose eyes it was.

Disclaimer for the entire story:

Never throughout this story do Thorin, the original company of the "Hobbit," or any characters that appear in the original "Hobbit" or "Lord of the Rings" belong to me.

However, Canna is mine.