Thorin had given them an ultimatum. If they could make it to the Shire, on their own and without getting into or causing trouble, then he would allow them to accompany him on his quest. If not, it was right back to Ered Luin with them.

Brothers, Fili and Kili, had every intention of doing good and going with their uncle on his great venture. So far the trip had been uneventful. At least nothing they couldn't handle. Uncle had trained them well and they were at ease on the road. They rode their ponies, chatting, singing and discussing what life would be like once they were in Erebor.

They would arrive in the Shire tomorrow night, provided there were no troubles. The Shire, home of the Hobbits. Fili and Kili had never seen a Hobbit before. They had heard some tales, like how they had enormous bare feet and how they loved having company and feeding their company. They looked forward to a good meal. It wasn't that they had eaten poorly on the road. Kili could kill a rabbit anytime and they could eat good meat, but a proper home cooked meal sounded so good.

The morning was bright and sunny. The countryside was green and the brothers were in a very good mood.

"Look up ahead," Kili pointed a ways up the road.

Fili looked. It was a single person on the road. It looked to be a female from the race of men. As they approached, they watched as she set her pack down and seemed to be stretching her back.

"Odd, isn't it?" Fili said. "Why would a woman be travelling alone on this road?"

Kili shrugged his shoulders. "Shall we see if she needs any help?"

Fili nodded. "Slowly. We don't know how she feels about dwarves."

She didn't seem to hear them as they approached, which surprised Fili as his pony whinnied loudly when they were about twenty paces away from her. Just as they reached her, the woman picked up her bundle and slung it onto her back. She lost her balance with the momentum of the weight and started to stumble back. Kili was off his pony in an instant and reached out to catch the woman.

"Easy there," he said as he grabbed her by one arm and her back.

The woman let out a small scream. She regained her balance and spun around to see who had caught her. Her bundle's weight made her stumble again as she spun around causing her once again to lose her balance. Kili caught her again.

"It's alright," he said. "Let me help you. Don't be afraid."

Fili was off his pony now and reaching to relieve her of her heavy bundle. "Are you alright?" he asked. "I'm sorry if we frightened you."

The woman released her bag and allowed Kili to help her stand up straight. The brothers noticed for the first time the woman was heavy with child.

"Thank you, Master Dwarves," she said. She took a moment to catch her breath. "I am well now, thank you. I'm sorry I yelled when I saw you. I didn't realize someone was behind me on the road." She chuckled to herself. "I don't guess I'm doing a good job of keeping myself safe when I don't pay attention to my surroundings and allow two people to approach me without my knowing it."

Fili wasn't entirely sure what to say to that. She was right, though. He and Kili were not a threat to her, but if they could approach her without her noticing, despite all the noise they made, an enemy or wild animal could easily attack her and she would never have known.

"This is a heavy bundle," he said. "No wonder you lost your balance."

"I only stopped for a few moments to stretch my back. My mind, obviously, was elsewhere," the woman said. Aside from her large stomach, she was a small, petite woman. Her brown hair hung in a single, messy, plait down her back. Her clothes were plain and practical. She was dirty, like she had been on the road for many days. Her face was red.

Fili couldn't tell if her face was red because she was hot or if she had a sunburn, but either way, neither was good for her in her condition. He reached into his pack and pulled out his water pouch. "Water?"

"Oh, no, Master Dwarf, I couldn't take your water."

"It's alright. We have more and you look thirsty," Fili held out the pouch.

She took it and drank several gulps. "Thank you," she panted as she resealed the pouch. "I was more thirsty than I realized."

"Your welcome. Fili, at your service," he said bowing to her.

"Kili," the other brother bowed, "at your service."

The woman blinked her eyes for a moment. "I'm Nerys, at yours."

"Where are you headed to?" Kili asked.

"Bree. I'm going to see my aunt," Nerys answered.

"Our journey takes us past Bree," Kili said. "May we accompany you there?"

She nodded and reached for her bundle, but Fili wouldn't let her have it. He put it on his pony's back.

"There's no need to do that," she protested, "I can carry it."

"I know you can," Fili smiled, "but you don't need to carry it. Not with a sturdy pony here to help."

She smiled and they began their walk. She kept glancing Kili's way, who caught her looking. He frowned, but she chuckled.

"Forgive me," she said. "I don't mean to stare or be rude, but you remind me of another dwarf I met many years ago, when I was a little girl. Until now, I have not seen another dwarf."

"Who is this dwarf you knew?" Kili asked.

"I don't remember his name. See, I was only eight at the time. Papa was away, fighting in a battle or war of some kind and maman was very sick. My baby sister was born too early and died. The birth and the illness Maman caught immediately following almost killed my mother. I am the oldest, so all duties fell to me. I took care of the house, my three younger siblings and all the cooking. Maman had two cooking knives, but they were so dull I couldn't use them to prepare any food. Not that we had much, but when we did, it was very inconvenient to have such dull knives. So one day, I took the last of our coins and the knives and I went to the blacksmith."

The brothers exchanged glances, wondering if they had by chance run into the young girl from one of Uncle Thorin's stories.