AN – This starts during at the end of the scene with the trolls. It's more movie-verse than book. Though, I can't really remember what happened during the lines and stuff because I got so into the movie that they I wasn't paying attention to remembering the lines. I will try to do my best and follow the lines. Though, I may change it up a little bit to fit in with my plot.

"Why'd you come back now," Thorin asked of Gandalf.

"I was told that you were about to do something very dumb," Gandalf answered. The other dwarves had been listening and gasped in surprised, while Thorin looked angry.

"What," his voice was completely devoid of emotion.

"That wasn't my words," Gandalf was quick to try to correct the dwarf king, knowing what his tone of voice meant.

"Then who's were they," Thorin challenged.

"They were mine," a figure that none had previously seen appeared from behind a true on a coal black mare. It was a small horse with a delicate looking bone structure. She tossed her head, as if greeting the group. The figure was dressed completely in black, and a black cloak put the rider's face into shadow. The low voice was clearly female.

"And who the devil are you?" Thorin asked, none to politely. He wasn't too keen on being called stupid.

The figure gave a short laugh as she swung down off of her mount. She landed on the ground almost silently, her black leather boots masking any sound she would have made. "Someone who has to look out for you." She walked forward, leaving the reins around the horse's neck, who bent down to nibble at the sparse grass in the clearing. She wasn't dressed in common clothes for any female. Even the few female dwarfs who were warriors dressed in a more feminine manner. And poor Bilbo, used only to the Hobbit woman, had never seen a woman in such a masculine outfit. The woman wore black leggings over which was a black tunic, belted at the waist with a black belt. Underneath was a loose cotton shirt, black, of course. She was wearing black leather gloves.

"That doesn't answer my question," Thorin grumbled a bit taken back, he was used to being instantly obeyed. "And what do you mean, 'watch over me'?"

"Actually," the figure approached Thorin, her face still masked. "It does. You didn't ask me what my name was, just who I was. Which was a very bad question, as I am a lot of things. And for your second question, I promised someone I would look after you. You know, protect you from doing anything stupid."

"Who did you make that promise to," Gandalf was the one to ask this question.

"I am not at liberty to say. At the time though, I didn't realize he would take me so seriously when I promised to repay him in any way. I wasn't really lost after all. I would have found my way out of the caves eventually. Nor did I think he would ask me to do something that would put me in such an awkward place. Damn promises are going to get me in a lot of trouble one day." Towards the end of the statement it appeared that she was talking more to herself than Thorin.

"Well, if you're supposed to be protecting him why did you get Gandalf." Fili challenged.

The figure laughed. "I am good, Master Dwarf. But not that good. I couldn't be sure that if I got involved then all of you would get out alive. Next time though, I could just charge in without paying mind to the consequences, if you'd like."

Thorin cut in, "Now, for my first question. Who are –" he cut off remembering her first answer, "What's your name?" He corrected himself.

"Very good, King Oakenshield." All could hear the smile in her voice. "You may call me Soleil."

"That's elvish," Gandalf stated.

"Correct," Soleil answered. "It means sun."

"Aren't you a little small to be an elf," Bilbo asked, the question escaping. It was true though. Soleil wasn't quite as tall as Thorin. Admittedly, Thorin was tall for a dwarf. (Also the dwarves are going to be slightly taller in my story. I apologize if this upsets anyone but I can only make Soleil so small. She is an elf after all.)

"You'll find many things about me, belie my ancestry, Master Hobbit," the woman replied kindly as she turned towards to the now cowering hobbit. "Now, you are at an advantage above me. For you know my name. What are yours?" She addressed the rest of the group. Her voice was friendly.

Ignoring Thorin's disapproving glare, they hurried to introduce themselves. When Kili introduced himself, the woman gasped softly. Her hands balling into fists at her sides. Thorin watched curiously, wondering what could have caused such a reaction.

"A pleasure to meet you, Kili," her voice sounded forced.

"And this is our burglar," Kili continued, when it became apparent Bilbo wasn't going to introduce himself. "He's Bilbo Baggins." The cloaked head nodded towards him.

"Why do you cover your face?" Gandalf questioned Soleil.

The figure shrugged carelessly. "It usually helps to get people to take me seriously. And the unknown often causes fear. "

"Well, we take you seriously," the wizard started, before he could finish however, Soleil laughed cheerfully.

"Of course." She reached up and pulled her hood back, shaking midnight black hair free of the loose knot it had been in. The previously covered up sight brought gasps of shock from the company, even the unflappable Gandalf looked stunned. Since Soleil was an elf, there was no way to tell how old she was exactly. However, if she had been a human she wouldn't have been more than twenty-one. Her features were flawless. Her eyes were just as black as her hair with a mischievous sparkle that majority of the company had seen in Kili's eyes right before they found an unpleasant surprise. She had a slight tan that told of spending hours in the sun. Her lips were full and pink. Her upper cheeks and across had a spattering of brown freckles, which only added to her youthful appearance.

It was Kili to ask the question that was one everyone's minds. "How old are you?"

"I only know that I'm over five hundred years old. Beyond that, it's anyone's guess." She paused, then seeing the confused look on the others' faces she continued. "I don't have any memories beyond about five hundred years ago. I just remembering waking up and being this way." She ran her hand through her hair, revealing for a moment the pointed ears which marked her as an elf.

"Do you expect us to believe that?" Thorin's distrust for elves out weighing his curiousity.

"It matters not to me if you believe or not. I made a promise that I intend to keep. Whether or not you enjoy it is up to you and is of little consequence to me," for the first time, Thorin got the idea that maybe Soleil was not one to be trifled with lightly. However, his anger was growing at this "upstart" of an elf. He was a dwarfish king after all.

"We have not asked for your protection. Nor do we need it. So, perhaps you should go back to whatever tree you have crawled out of, elf." Thorin spat at Soleil. Her gaze hardened and the others of the group wished that their leader had held his tongue. Even Gandalf looked slightly unsettled.

Soleil walked over to where Thorin stood. She paused only a few inches away from him. She had to look up slightly to meet his eyes, but she still looked intimidating. "I will do no such thing. And I suggest that you hold your tongue, dwarf." Her tone held the same amount of contempt that Thorin's had when he had called her an elf. "I made a promise. And I never break a promise. Now, I promised to protect you. I never said that you would be comfortable while I was doing it."

Thorin's company hoped fervently that the king wouldn't continue. However, Thorin refused to back down. "Are you threatening me?" His voice suspiciously calm. Soleil stepped back, laughing.

"I would never lower myself to threaten someone," she replied as she turned her back on the king and moved to her horse. She pulled herself into the saddle with no effort, as she swung her right leg over the back of the saddle, she turned back to Thorin. "I warn or promise. Never threaten." Still laughing, she nudged the mare. The horse faded silently into the woods surrounding the trolls' glade, Soleil's laughter still echoing in the woods.

Kili, noting the glare that his uncle was still giving the area of woods that Soleil rode off into, decided to have a little fun. "I have to admit, I'll sleep much easier knowing that she's watching over us. Don't you agree, Fili?"

Fili, catching onto what Kili was doing (and whole-heartedly agreeing), joined in. "Of course. Does this mean that I get a shorter watch and a longer time to sleep, Uncle Thorin?"

Thorin turned quickly to glare at his two nephews. "If she is determined to protect us," his voice clearly stating that he didn't think that Soleil would be much help, "then we will ignore her. We don't have to have anything to do with her. We don't mention her. We don't even think about her. That goes especially for you Kili and Fili. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," Fili said, while Kili definitely held his uncle's glare for a moment or two before giving in. Thorin continued, "Good. Now, that this matter of business is over, we have more important things to attend to." As he spoke, a huge black animal detached itself from the shadow of the woods. It resembled a large cat and bounded over to the brothers. Kili quickly aimed an arrow, but as quick as he was, the animal was quicker. It went behind him and poked it's head out from beneath his legs, looking up at him with friendly eyes. All the dwarves looked at the cat-like animal with surprise.

"Where did that come from," Gloin asked. The animal looked at him baring its teeth. Then it walked around Kili's leg and sat leaning against his side, gazing up at him with adoring eyes. (Trust me if you've never had a pet, animals can totally look adoring. I'm a sucker for those eyes. For those who do have pets, they will know exactly what I'm talking about.) Kili replaced the arrow and rubbed the animal behind its ears.

"I think it might belong to her-who-shall-not-be-mentioned." Kili said completely deadpan, the mischievous sparkle that the dwarves had noticed in Soleil's eyes brightening his chocolate brown eyes. Fili was suddenly struck by a coughing fit, as was Gandalf and several other of the dwarves. Thorin, who was completely unconvinced by their sudden ailment, glanced disparagingly at them.

"I suppose that we can't kill it," he said, sounding as if he wished very much to kill the animal.

"Killing it would probably be very unwise," Gandalf agreed, gaining control of himself.

"Please stop referring to Ibenholt as (Ibenholt is Norwegian for Ebony, at least it is according to Google translate.) an it. She probably doesn't like it very much." Kili said, still rubbing the giant cat, still the glint in his eye.

"Please tell me that you didn't name it," Thorin said to his nephew.

Fili jumped to his brother's defense, "I think that Ibenholt is a great name for her. It fits. I rather like it. Anyone disagree." There was no comments from any of the surrounding group. "Then Ibenholt she is." He knelt down to pet the animal who purred at the added attentions. The sound seemed to vibrate through the entire glade.

"May the gods save me from foolish nephews," Thorin grumbled. Even as he said this, another animal came strolling into the glade. It was completely black, of course, though this one looked like a dog, though the way it moved reminded the group of a wolf. It sat in front of Thorin, it's head cocked to the side as if assessing the king.

"This is ridiculous," the king protested.

Fili, taking Kili's mode of attack, quickly commented on the new comer. "I think that we should call him Svart Helten."

Dwalin snorted, "Black Hero. Svart Djevelen would be more likely."

Kili jumped the dog's defense. "Black Devil. That's just rude. However, it does sound better then Svart Helten, Fili. As long as we understand that it's only because the name sounds nice. I don't think that taken literally it would fit him."

"That is enough," Thorin thundered, his voice silencing everyone. "I want everyone to get their things together immediately. Whoever is not ready in five minutes will be left behind." With that the king stalked off into the woods, back to the camp grounds. Grumbling about elf maids who were to uppity for their own good.

So like it? Hate it? Please review with any comments, constructive criticism or any thoughts. I really do appreciate it.

And it makes me update faster. If anyone's interested.