So this story is a collab with my sister, ShadowHawk. She writes the Redia chapters and I write the Thorin chapters. We will try to update as often as we can (hopefully at least once every other day).

We have tried to make this as cannon complaint as possible, but we have also taken some liberties. Such as the Ladies of Laketown, a group of warrior women who were founded during the Battle of the Five Armies.

REIDA

Reida always looked forward to the end of the week. Specifically the last day of the week. The end of the day and the last meal before evening. Supper. It was on this day and at this meal which her sister, Nin, cooked a fine big dinner and had her family pay a visit. And Nin was an excellent cook.

Reida didn't know when exactly the tradition had started, but she wasn't disappointed that it had. She purposely left work early to make it to her sister and brother-in-law's to make dinner on time. Although not too early. Reida had found that if she came early, there would be chores to finish before the meal. But it wasn't because Reida disliked chores, on the contrary, she quite enjoyed them. No, it was because she had figured out she was a nuisance in the kitchen.

The first five times she had broken Nin's delicate porcelain, the next four, she had failed to watch the stove correctly and made the tarts burn into lumps of gooey blackness. Finally, Nin had politely asked her not to come early anymore. Reida knew how to cook, but her talents were at their best when dealing with a slab of venison or skinned hare over an open fire.

The smell of all the evening meals of Dale wafted out of the houses as Reida hurried passed through the streets. She was dressed in a simple outfit of a cotton shirt, breeches, a cloak and solid leather boots. There was a long dagger sheathed at her side, a weapon she was rarely without, and her brown hair was knotted tightly in a mess of leather and braids. She was dressed as a man, but not uncommonly so. Reida had discovered early that the work of slaying Orcs in the highlands was best done in breeches. Also, being The First of the Ladies of Lake Town gave her leeway from the 'traditional' sense in how she chose to dress.

Nin's house was third from the corner of Bard's Way and the healer's street, and Reida was not surprised to find that the best smells seemed to come from her sister's house. The aroma physically blasted her in the face as she opened the sturdy oak door. The interior of the house had the mad hustle and bustle of one which was expecting company. Nin's two children, two of Reida's nieces and nephews were more or less trying to set the table in the front room while poking and pinching each other, and squealing, making the din much louder then it needed to be.

The girl, Lilia, stopped tormenting her brother when she saw Reida come step across the threshold of the home and remove her cloak.

"Aunty Rei! Mum, Aunt Reida is here," the seven-year-old called to where her mother was unseen in the kitchen. Lilia rushed over and reached her arms around her Aunt's waist in a hug that included her having a handful of forks.

"Hello Aunty Rei!" The second of the two, Haforth shouted loudly and also ran over, determined not to be outdone in hugs by his sister.

Reida gave them one of her rare amused grins. "Well hello, you two. But where did all this enthusiasm come from? It hasn't been that long since I've seen you last."

"It's been two weeks! That's a long time, Aunty Rei," Lilia said stubbornly.

"And a long time when you are only seven," a man, who bore resemblance to Reida, came from beyond the doors of the kitchen, grinning. "Hello, sister."

"Good evening, little brother," Reida gave him a warm half-smile, the equivalent for her of someone rushing to embrace a well-thought-of sibling. "Is serving in the court of the King still to your liking?"

Haidrian rolled his eyes, grinning. "Not everyone is as socially awkward as yourself, my dear sister. But to answer your question: yes. Being Keeper of the Seals is still appealing to my general liking."

"Aunt Reida hunts Orc, though, Uncle," Haforth exclaimed in his very loud, young voice. "She fights in battles."

Haidrian ruffled his nephew's hair good-naturedly. "There are many different types of battle grounds, Haforth. And rarely is anyone one person gifted in them all."

"I want to be like Aunty Rei when I grow up!" Lilia said, proudly looking up at her Aunt.

"Me too! I want to fight in wars with swords and spears!" Haforth took a fork from his sister's hand and swished it around as though wielding a large broadsword.

"Me too!" Lilia joined in her brother's charade, but ended up dropping the rest of the forks on the floor.

"What is going on out here?" Came the stern voice of Nin, before the rest of her came from the kitchen, wiping her wet hands on a rag.

"The children were merely demonstrating to us their chosen occupations, Nin," Haidran said simply.

"Slaying Orcs with forks," Reida put in with her most cheerful voice. Anyone who first saw her would say that Reida had a tendency to seem cross all the time, but outward appearances were often false. But since Reida didn't make it her practice to smile all the time, her usual expressions were dour ones. The plus side was that when she was genuinely happy, it showed.

Nin huffed at her two youngest children. "Well the Orcs will have to wait for another day, we need those fork around the table. Quickly! Go!" Nin turned to Reida and Haidrian, her irritable expression immediately softened and she moved to embrace her sister. "Reida! How are you? How was your trip?"

"As good as could be expected. We all made it back." Reida was aware of how gloomy her words sounded as soon as she had said them and hastily tried to turn it around. "There was hardly any trouble at all."

This was mostly true. Mostly. If tracking a band of Orcs that had added three days onto their journey didn't count as trouble.

"Excellent!" Nin said warmly. "We are glad you have returned safely. Now I must see to the quail, excuse me."

The two siblings watched Nin disappear through the kitchen door.

"You would never have guessed that the three of us grew up together," Haidrian shook his head and moved over the small sitting space, complete with a couple of mismatched, but comfortable chairs. He took one and Reida sat opposite him.

"I do believe it comes with being a hostess and a house wife."

Haidrian looked side-ways at his sister. "An occupation you never hope to achieve…?"

Now it was Reida's turn to roll her eyes. "The question of years passed. You already know the answer to that one, little brother."

Haidrian held up is hands in defense. "Just checking, just checking. You never know what could get into someone's head when they have travel the highlands."

Reida snorted. "I would rather it be the blade of an Orcish champion then whimsical desires of becoming enslaved to a house filled with… young ones."

The squeals of their niece and nephew were once again filling the house.

"Children aren't all bad," Haidrian said with a laugh. "They are a gift. One that will greatly benefit you when you are old and senile."

"I hope to die before that day comes," Reida replied in a dour voice. "Being old has very few advantages for me."

As though on cue, the front door opened and through it stepped the grandfather of Lilia and Haforth, the man who was also the father of Reida, Haidrian and Nin. Following him were Haidrian's wife and three children, the youngest of whom was eleven.

Greetings and hugs were given out, all of which Reida took with a certain amount of restricted gusto. It was easier to feel at ease with people she knew, and these people were her family.

"A successful week for my eldest daughter?" Draer, son of Dran, asked proudly, his voice whistling through the many gaps in his teeth.

"As well as could be expected, father," Reida beamed at the wizened old man, and gave him the customary hug of a dutiful daughter.

"I'm sure you have a tale or two to tell, would you-" But then he was interrupted by Nin announcing that dinner was ready. "Ah. After the meal, then."

The family squeezed in around the table. Steaming dishes of roasted quail, potato soup and freshly baked bread looked just as squeezed among the many plates and forks sitting before each person.

There was Haidrian's family, totaling five in all. Draer, the grandfather. Nin's two youngest as well as her eldest, a quiet girl whose name was Amra. Nin's husband, Hildan, who was a part of the watch, had hurried through the door at the last minute and had taken his spot at the head of the table.

Then there was Mikali, her two children, and Leea, Reida's cousin and aunt, the former of whom was under Reida's command as a member of the Ladies of Lake Town. Mikali also had a brother who was a solider in the King's Own, and who rarely seemed to have time to make it to the weekly family gathering.

And finally, Reida herself.

They were a merry bunch. Full of family honour and respect for each other, and Reida was glad to be associated with these folk.

They were only half way through the meal when a heavy knocking came from the door. The sound hardly took away from the conversation, but Nin, being the good hostess, got up from her place and went to the door. Reida watched her and as her sister opened the door, she could see the distinguishing colours of a high-ranking messenger in the King's Own. For half a second, Reida thought it was Mikali's brother, but then recognized it to be someone else; a younger man called Alsath who often carried messages for the King.

Reida stood as Alsath just convinced Nin to let him enter the house.

"First Reida," Alsath said smartly as she approached. "I bear a message from General Corthath. You are to report to him immediately."

Reida regarded him and crossed her arms. "I just saw the General today. Can't this wait until tomorrow?"

Alsath shook his head meekly. "General Corthath was most insistent."

The First of the Ladies frowned as she thought of what the General could want, but Alsath apparently thought she was frowning at him.

"I-I'm only bringing the message, First. I-I'll take my leave now." He turned to leave and it wasn't until he was far out the door that Reida remembered to thank him for bringing her the message, but it was too late, he was already gone.

Reaching for her cloak where she had hung it on the hook by the door, Reida pulled it over her shoulders and clasped it around her shoulders.

"You must leave now?" Nin asked disappointedly. "I made your favourite for desert…"

"Apparently, the General thinks he can summon me like some lowly officer," Reida growled sourly. "I'll try to make it back, Nin, but I have no idea what General Corthath wants." She turned and stepped out the door.

"Right…" Nin said holding the door open and watching her. "I'll keep the kettle on."

Reida nodded to her sister in thanks and turned away from the warm house, delicious food, and pleasant company into the darkening evening and narrow streets of Dale.

Thanks for reading. Reviews are like lembas, but unfortunately I am like a hobbit.