Chapter 1: Going Along For The Ride

Bilbo gazed around his dining room in shock. Dwarves were everywhere and none of them he knew. Stood in front of him were 6 and he didn't know what was going on. At the moment, they appeared to be raiding his pantry. Two, Fili and Kili he believed, were moving furniture so that there would be space for "the others". Bilbo nearly passed out when he heard news of others but before he could there came another knock on the door. Sighing, Bilbo angrily marched to the door expecting to find a long bearded, stout dwarf at-your-servicing him.

Bilbo yanked open the door about to shout at the dwarf and tell him that there was no room in his hobbit-hole for anyone else to join. But the sight he saw dumbfounded him. Stood there, was not a male dwarf, stocky and short in stature with a hard face but a very pretty young female dwarf. She had long, dark brown hair that fell down her back, not matted like the other's hair but glossy and well-kept and no beard despite the rumours. Her eyes were a deep blue and they glimmered in the moonlight and contrasted against her white as snow face with pink cheeks that made her look youthful. Her mouth was set in a wide smile due to the hobbits reaction and it showed off her perfect white teeth.

"Mr Baggins?" she questioned.

"Y-yes," replied Bilbo, who was trying to compose himself as the beautiful dwarf stood in front of him was not what he had expected at all.

She giggled at him and, remembering her manners, said, "Fria Azdar, at your service."

.o0o.

Fria passed Bilbo and handed him her cloak. Fili walked into the hallway and saw the new addition to the company.

"Miss Fria Azdar," he said, smiling at her. She smiled back, glad to see a familiar face.

From the dining room, she heard her name being said in a questioning tone and Kili practically raced into the hallway to see if she was really there or not. When, Kili saw her, he grinned ecstatically and ran to her before grabbing her in a bear hug and, lifting her up, spinning her round and round. Kili's reaction was due to the close friendship that had always been obvious ever since the two were little children. Fria was older by a few years and had always been extremely protective of him, even though she was often the one getting him into trouble but if she ever got him in too deep, she would be there to save him. When she had left the Blue Mountains a few years beforehand to travel, Kili actually cried as he didn't know what he would do without her. So, of course, now, after years of not seeing his best friend, he was overjoyed to know she would be joining the company and causing trouble with him as before.

"I had no idea you were coming with us!" Kili said, still grinning.

"Yeah, I thought I'd come along for the ride!" she replied, happy to see her friend. Her reaction had not been as strong as she had expected to see Kili, knowing he would follow his uncle to hell and back. They walked into the dining room where all the tables and chairs had been set up. Kili dragged her to sit in the far corner of the room and the two talked and talked until all the dwarves but the great Thorin Oakenshield had arrived. At this point, Fili was handing out drinks to all the company and when everyone had received one, he shouted, "Tank up!"

At this, the whole company began to down their drinks and a lot spilled out, missing their mouths and flowing down into their beards which was already full of food. The only one who seemed to have some manners was Fria, who was still downing her drink but was not spilling it everywhere and she had not got food all over but dwarves are dwarves and she still did not live up to anywhere near the hobbit's standards. The hobbit, who felt quite flustered, was staring round at the dwarves' disgusting habits and also at Gandalf, who had arrived along with some of the company, who was laughing at the dwarven antics and not at all put off by their lack of etiquette.

Bilbo walked into the hallway and was followed by Gandalf, who wished to convince Bilbo that joining the dwarves was a good idea. Their conversation was interrupted by Ori who very politely asked Bilbo where he could put his plate.

"Give it here, Ori," said Fili. He then tossed the plate to his brother in the kitchen causing Bilbo to have a worried look on his face. The dwarves then began to beat a rhythmic pattern with the knives and by banging their feet on the ground.

"Could you please not do that, you'll blunt the knives!" said Bilbo looking flustered.

"Hear that lads! He said we'll blunt the knives!" said Bofur sarcastically, causing a few laughs from the others.

And all of a sudden the dwarves burst into song.

Blunt the knives and bend the forks!
Smash the bottles and burn the corks!
Chip the glasses and crack the plates!
That's what Bilbo Baggins hates -

Cut the cloth and tread the fat!
Leave the bones on the bedroom mat!
Pour the milk on the pantry floor!
Splash the wine on every door!

Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl;
Pound them up with a thumping pole;
And when you've finished, if any are whole,
Send them down the hall to roll!

That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!

At the end of the song, Bilbo expected the crockery to have been destroyed but they had all been piled up nicely by the dwarves and Bilbo gave a sigh of relief.

"Right, I think we should have a drinking game! One on one!" shouted Kili, causing a lot of applause and cheering. " Any volunteers?"

"I'll go against you!" shouted Fria and the dwarves who didn't know her started to snigger. But Balin and Fili, who were the only ones besides Kili who had seen her drink, started full on laughing as they knew this girl was a strong drinker and would not go down without a fight.

"Right, five tankards, first one to finish all of them wins five gold coins!" said Kili.

"Deal!"

The two shook hands and five tankards were put in front of each of them.

"Go!" shouted Balin and the two began instantly. The other dwarves were cheering for Kili but Fria didn't care. She would prove to them she was the strongest drinker of them all.

And she did. She had finished all five of hers by the time Kili was half way through his third.

The other dwarves looked at her in astonishment. Never had they seen a woman handle her drink so well and a new respect was developed for her. Sure, they had never seen her fight but if she could drink that fast and not even appear affected, they knew she was just as strong as any of them.

Fria was pleased with the everyone's reaction and she began to laugh loudly and the others joined in.

"Just because I'm a woman doesn't mean I can't kick your ars-"

Fria was stopped mid-sentence and interrupted by a loud knock on the door. Everyone turned to face in the direction of the noise.

"He is here!" said Gandalf.

Not a moment later, all the dwarves were in the hallway and watching as Bilbo pulled open the door. Thorin stood and glanced at the hobbit.

"Mr Baggins?" he questioned. Bilbo nodded, quite shocked by the dwarf prince. He was strong in stature and tall for a dwarf but it was not that. He had a presence that seemed to bond the dwarves. A few moments ago they had all been shouting and cheering and now, they stood attentive and silent as the prince strode in, looking around at his companions. His gaze lingered on Fria and she knew she wasn't wanted.

"I apologise for being late. I lost my way-twice. I would not have found it at all if it were not for the mark on the door."

"I assure you that there is no mark on my door! It was painted just last week!" said Bilbo, gaining himself a glare from Thorin.

"So this is the hobbit," said Thorin and everyone paused for his reaction. "Looks more like a grocer than a burglar."

The room filled with laughter and Bilbo looked quite offended. Fria noticed this and instantly stopped laughing, not wanting to hurt the hobbit's feelings.

The tension seemed to have been lifted. That was until Thorin turned around and glared at Fria. The laughing stopped and Kili, who was stood next to her, put an arm protectively around her.

"What are you doing here?" spat Thorin, showing his discontent.

"I want to help you with your quest..." replied Fria, her confidence shaken.

"We don't need a woman!"

Fria saw red. Men were constantly talking down to her but never had she expected it from a dwarf, especially such a noble and fair prince such as Thorin. She wanted to punch him in the face but instead she quench her anger slightly, clenched her fist and responded harshly.

"Don't you dare judge me because of my gender! Just because I am a woman, it does not make me a hindrance! I am more than capable of sustaining myself and have done so for the past two years! I can fight well with a sword and am a good shot with a bow and arrow not to mention my skills in healing! So don't ever judge me based on stupid stereotypes again!"

Thorin shot Fria a look that made her want the ground to open up beneath her feet but he didn't say anything. He just walked into the dining room to start the business of the quest. Kili patted Fria on the shoulder reassuringly and pulled her into the dining room and sat as far away from Thorin as possible.