Chapter 1

A Little Rain Never Hurt

Gatena sighed one evening at the content knowledge of how her life was playing out, with no surprises or ill fate rushed her way as she gathered some spices and herbs together in her basket. She had to rush away from the inn when she realized that the herbs used for mineral baths were low and she wanted to hurry and restore them before more customers came in, while promising her friends she would be back for dinner. However, with all the freezing rain coming down that night, she figured they wouldn't have many customers so she felt she bought a little time.

Gatena was an interesting young girl, a half human and half hobbit mix that most people didn't seem to mind, standing no taller than 4'5" with beautiful wavy blonde hair that stopped at her mid-back with two braids in the front on both sides of her face that stopped just above her chest and also emerald green eyes like her father. The people in Bree knew who she was because she was the only one who wore a flower in her hair, a habit she had grown ever since she was little. She had natural decent curves for a young one her age and though she was pretty, that particularly was not what got people's attention about her; it was her kindness. Everyone, including her friends, would say she was uncommonly kind to people, even to strangers. She, however, didn't care about this judgment as she felt she was only doing what was right.

Gatena lived in the Shire with her parents most her life but she eventually wanted more out of life because nothing ever happened where she was. When she was old enough, she packed her things and went off on her own, traveling to the village of Bree where she met 6 other people her age and they decided to pool their money together and build the most popular inn that Bree would ever have; The Raven's Flight Inn. The seven friends together had the most popular inn in the whole village, including being well known for their special mineral baths that have a variety of healing properties.

"Goodnight Master Hawkins! Thanks again for the supplies," She shouted to the shop owner as she lifted her hood and departed down the street to head back to the inn, the rain pounding hard and freezing cold. Gosh this rain is so cold; maybe it would have been better to wait until morning to get these supplies. She clutched her cloak close to keep herself dry as she walked down the road, being careful not to slip in the muddy roads. She only got halfway to her destination when something caught her eye, or rather someone…make that two someones sitting on a bench underneath the small overpass of one of the shops that was closed. The shop was a bakery that had been closed for a while and was near the farmer's market for selling fresh food.

She looked closer at the two in order to study their detail; the two men looked to be the same age and same height but looking a little more she realized they weren't men but dwarves. The blond one had two braids in his hair on both sides of his face and one braid on each side of his mustache, while the brunet one didn't even have a beard but simple stubble on his face. The two wore the same style of leather clothes with fur trims on the bottoms and sleeves and carried a variety of weapons with them. Their cloaks had hoods but obviously weren't made for heavy rain like her cloak was, for the two dwarves were soaking wet, possibly shaking from the cold, and trying to look casual about it. What on earth could they be sitting there for? The bakery closed long ago. Despite something telling her she shouldn't engage them, she couldn't simply leave them like they were so she carefully crossed the road over to the two dwarves sitting alone.

"Excuse me…" The two looked up to meet this young girl's gaze and exchanged slight glances with one another before looking to the young lady again. "Hi, I'm sorry to bother you but you do realize how hard it's raining out right? The bakery is closed, why are you sitting here?"

After looking at each other and speaking in a foreign language to her ears, the blond haired dwarf spoke up at her question. "We are simply trying to stay out of the rain while we wait for the last workers to leave the farmer's market and sneak in after it closes."

Now her expression became confused, she knew that no one in the market could possibly have anything to help them, probably wouldn't even serve them because most in this village frowned upon dwarves. "Why are you waiting to go in the market?"

At this question the blond grew quiet until the brunet spoke up. "…because the barn is warm, congested with livestock but still warm…"

She was beyond shocked; these two were willing to sleep in the barn and risk getting caught if it meant a warm place to sleep. There was absolutely no way she would let this happen. "Do you both have a place to sleep?" The two slowly nodded their heads to answer but she didn't look pleased. "Don't you dare lie to me."

Taken aback by her direct accusation that they were lying, instead of saying 'no' the brunet simply answered, "please miss, feel no need to worry about my brother and I. We will be fine once we get out of the rain."

Oh now they are going to try and convince me it's all ok, but I cannot allow this. "But it's freezing stinging rain. You can't possibly stay out here all night, let alone another hour until the market workers leave."

It was the blond's turn to reply to her, forcing a half smile. "A little rain never hurt anyone miss. You best be on your way. We will be fine…really…"

She didn't like how they were avoiding telling her the truth but she silently nodded and started to walk away. They are probably not used to people talking to them here…what am I doing? I don't care if they won't admit the truth; I cannot leave them out here or let them go to sleep in a foul smelling barn. With all the strength and courage in her heart, Gatena walks back to the two dwarves and removed her cloak to hold over them to keep them dry with a smile on her face.

The two brothers looked up at her, shocked beyond belief. Here was a stranger they hardly knew, offering them an extra cloak to keep them dry, while she stands in the same rain, becoming quite drenched in the process of helping them. Taken aback by her kindness, the blond dwarf looks at her like she is crazy. "Miss what are you doing? You will get soaked like that."

"A little rain never hurt anyone, but neither do a cloak and a little kindness." She simply smiled saying that and the brothers looked back at one another, unsure of how to react to her kind gesture. She took the opportunity to question them again. "You really don't have a decent place to sleep, do you? Are you both cold? Perhaps a little hungry?" They simply shook and nodded their heads in agreement to her questions, embarrassed when the mentioning of food brought a grumbling sound from their stomachs as none of the other restaurants or food shops would sell them food because they were dwarves. She saw them look quite embarrassed and gathers their attention. "Hey now, don't worry. There is no shame in being that way…no shame. Why don't you two come with me? I can find you a place to stay."

At that, the two brothers figured it might be worth it for all this girl has done to be kind to them. So the two stood up with the girl and walked down the road, following the young lady to the unknown destination while also trying to keep her from getting anymore wet as the three shared one cloak.