Thorin Oakenshield's head was cradled in his clenched hands. This entire journey had just been one disaster after another. They were barely two weeks out of Bree, and the company's resources were almost quite literally thrown away. In some part of himself, he knew it wasn't Kili's fault, but it was so easy to place the blame on him. He was the one leading the pony, he should have realised how close it was to the river. How the creature couldn't simply bound over the rocks and logs like the young dwarrow could. His mistake had caused to pony to trip and tumble into the river, along with the majority of their food supply.

So now here he sat, distanced from the rest of the company lest he say something he would regret. I never should have brought him along, he thought as his hard gaze settled on the lad, who sat apart from the group. He was apparently on watch, sitting against a tree on the outskirts of the clearing - But his knees were pulled up to his chest and his chin bent low. The lad was absolutely devastated. This was his chance to prove himself, and he had already thoroughly messed it up.

Thorin ran his hand over his face, inhaling deeply. The wizard was stomping around the fire ranting and raving about dwarves and their idiocy, which wasn't helping matters in the slightest. Movement from the corner of his eye shifted Thorins attention to the hobbit as he approached Thorin's distraught nephew. Mr Baggins hesitantly laid a hand on his shoulder and spoke softly. Although he couldn't hear what was being said, Thorin felt a slight warmth well up in his chest when Kili smiled widely, tears still shimmering in his eyes.

"Thorin!" The wizard was becoming far too comfortable with barking orders, it seemed. Yet Thorin nodded at Gandalf as he sat across from him. Gandalf leaned forward conspiratorially, with all the subtlety of a young man gambling for the first time.

"You may not agree with what I'm about to suggest, but I believe that it is our only option." The grey wizard searched for a reaction on his stony face. "The point stands that we are too far out of Bree to go back. Luckily for you, I have a - I suppose you could call her a friend - who lives in the forest, not even a day out of the way of our path!"

Thorin prided himself on being intuitive. And this plan that Gandalf suggested was setting off every warning bell in his body. It was just all too eyes narrowed into slits.

"Who, exactly, is this friend you speak of? And why would she be living so far out of town?"

"Well, I doubt you would know her, so her name would hold no weight in this conversation. I've crossed paths with her many a time, and she's a rather introverted person. She prefers to live alone due to her work, among other things."

Thorin's suspicion grew "And what line if work is she in?"

Gandalf flicked his hand aloofly "She dabbles in a number of thing. For the most part, she's a herbalist, of sorts."

Thorin slumped forward with a sigh, scratching at his beard. "I suppose, at this point, she is our only option." He hated to admit it, all the more so now as he watched the wizard shift smugly. Yet, they had very little supplies, and he wasn't certain how far the next town was. He wasn't going to let something like starvation kill his company, not when a solution was within reach. "I am very glad you see it my way," Gandalf grinned toothily. "We'll set out in the morning - if we go now we would arrive much later than is polite."

As Gandalf walked away with a renewed bounce to his step, Thorin watched as he flagrantly addressed the company with their new plans. The uproar over visiting the wizards mysterious friend was expected and Thorin found himself wondering how much the wizard actually valued courtesy. Once again, his head dropped into his palms.

The makeshift hammock swayed gently in the breeze. Brona's fingertips grazed the dewy grass as it rippled softly in the wind. The glittering stars overhead had just began to fade and the sky was starting to turn a balmy shade of copper. Brona was the image of pure comfort, wrapped up in a large tartan blanket with one freckled arm resting on her stomach. The fluttering of wings pulled her from her thoughts. A tiny grey moth landed on her fingers with a jolt. She raised it up to her face, getting a good look at the creature. Its intricate wings gleamed dimly in the fading moonlight. She very nearly dropped it when it spoke in a tiny yet clear voice.

I require your services. Will arrive midday. Gandalf the grey.

She hadn't heard from the grey wizard in years, and he plans to show up at her home, totally uninvited? The gall!

It was moments like this where Brona wished she was more assertive.

With a sigh she rolled onto the dewy grass. Her arms stretched high above her head as she walked towards her squat home, her bare feet burying themselves into the shaggy grass with every step. She will need to prepare.

Brona bounced the knife in her hands for a moment, glancing into the bowl of water. Gandalfs group consisted of 13 dwarves and, curiously, a hobbit, as far as she could tell. She had been observing them for some time now. They had stumbled through the woods, and had gotten as far as the gateway. Now, they were waiting in the clearing, not all too sure where to go from there. They have been there for almost thirty minutes now. Gandalf knew how to get to her home, so why was he dawdling about? What exactly was he waiting for? He was already helping himself to her property, so it wasn't an invitation he was looking for.

She flung the stone knife in her scrying bowl, making the images ripple and disappear. She should have realised. He wasn't waiting for an invitation- but an entrance. A welcome, even. Brona huffed - the old wizard always had a flare for the dramatic. She smoothed the tense lines between her brows with her fingers. These guests of hers better be out of her property within a few days. Not like the last time Gandalf 'visited'. She was at her wits end by the time he had finally left - almost three months longer than he initially said he'd stay.

With a sigh she pushed through the sheer ribbons of her door, stepping out into the sunlight. Better go meet her guests. Halfway there did she have a realisation, and turn back with a snort. She should probably put some clothes on.

So this little thing has been bouncing around my head for some time, and i've only now gotten actual motivation to write it out! i really hope you enjoy Brona and her journey. If this does even mildly ok and when its finished i have an idea for a sequel (which could go one of two ways, but ill go onto that later)! Also, im rather horrible with titles, so it may me prone to changing.